Some angry youth in Kuron Boma in Kauto Payam, Kapoeta East County, have blocked barricaded the Kapoeta-Buma road in protest against killing and abduction in the area.
The road is the main route used by traders and UN agencies and humanitarian groups to transport market commodities and relief aid to Pibor Administrative Area.
However, officials in Kapoeta East say there have been increased cases of crimes committed by suspected armed men from the neighboring administrative area.
In mid-September 2023, a young woman was killed and her baby abducted in the area. In the same month, attackers kidnapped four young girls.
Read: Kuron mother stabbed to death, baby kidnapped
The county commissioner says the youth have vowed to keep preventing vehicles from proceeding to Pibor Administrative Area unless authorities return the abducted children.
“The youth said the authorities people should return the children so that they will allow vehicles to go to their area,” Abdallah Lokeno told Singaita FM on Tuesday.
Abductions of women and children are common practice in South Sudan. Women and girls are abducted to give birth, boys to be trained as warriors and to join inter-communal fighting and cattle raiding.