The Commissioner of Yei River County Aggrey Cyrus has accused forces of the National Salvation Front (NAS) of Gen. Thomas Cirilo of abducting 63 civilians from the area.

Cryus said forces of NAS kidnapped the civilians in separate incidents and different locations including Mapoko, Mugwo, and Kukaya over the past weeks.

Speaking to The City Review from Yei town on Tuesday, Cyrus said some abductees who were captured at the border with Democratic Republic Congo managed to escape while the majority were still missing up to date.

“The abduction of the civilians is done by NAS, and the funny thing is that they don’t have a base in Yei River County, and they abduct, they come from a long distance. Like there is basis is in Nuni and they come from there, abduct and go back to Nuni,” Commissioner Cyrus said. 

He continued saying “The total people so far is 63 and some have been released while others ran away from the abductors,” and called on the civilians to avail information about NAS to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces.

The City Review was unable to verify the statement independently. However, there has been a report allegedly involving forces of Gen. Cirilo attacking and abducting road users along major roads in the country.

NAS, now part of the 2017 Cessation of Hostility Agreement (CoHA) has been accused by the SSPDF of attacking their positions in several parts of Central Equatoria including Lainya County, Koje Keji, among others.

Early this month, Maj. Gen. Teshome Gemechu Aderie, Chairperson of the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) had launched an investigation into recent alleged armed clashes between SSDPF and NAS forces in some parts of Central Equatoria.

“There have been several incidents allegedly involving NAS forces in Central Equatoria. We are investigating these incidents, and you will be briefed on these incidents, ” Gemechu said.