Local authorities in Uror County of Jonglei State on Thursday handed over 8 abductees rescued from different parts of the county to their counterparts in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).

The recovery and handover of the former abductees, comprising 5 women and three children, is obligatory per the March grass-roots peace initiative involving rival communities of the Murle, Dinka Bor, and Nuer in Uror’s Pieri town.

Tang Chatim, the Uror County Commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday, “We handed over 3 children and 5 women to our counterparts in GPAA. They were airlifted to Pibor town from Pieri this morning. This has brought the number of abductees we recovered and handed over to 43 since the beginning of this year. For us, we received 24.”

For his part, Pibor town mayor Nyany Korok applauded the Jonglei State government for the handover, saying it will help build trust among the locals in the greater Jonglei area.

Meanwhile, Simon Manyok Deng, the Jonglei State human rights advisor described the recovery and handover of abductees as a “peace gesture” and said that they will continue engaging their GPAA counterparts for the realization of peace and security in the two restive areas.