SSPDF commander goes on arrest spree in Nasir, commissioner says

JUBA – A senior South Sudan army commander in Nasir County of Upper Nile state has gone on arrest spree detaining young people without criminal records, according to the commissioner of Nasir County Duol Kuon Thian.

In a letter to peace monitors in Upper Nile state’s capital Malakal, Duol said the SSPDF area commander in Nasir Major General Justin Nhial Bitoang arrested a young man on 10 May and ordered a 35-force to go and loot the WFP programme in Nasir.

“It was 10^th May 2022 at around 2:00 PM when SSPDF Area Commander Maj Gen Justin Nhial Bitoang arrest one of the youth by the name ADIK MALUOTH age of 27 in Nasir Market. He took him to Wech-Yaradiw Military Barrack with pick-up truck,” Duol said in the letter seen by Sudans Post.

“He was detained and seriously bitten and torture for whole night, after several phone calls and engagements from County authority and elders, he was finally released in the following day without single criminal charges. He was taken to Nasir County Hospital for treatment,” he added.

The commissioner the “the same day, at around 6:00 PM, Maj Gen Justin Nhial Bitoang ordered an army of 35 men to go to World Food Programme distribution area where Nasir County Residents are receiving their Food.”

“The army came and seize #257 Sacks of Sorghum, (50 KGs)  SSRRC officials  and elders plus County authority appeal to Maj Gen Justin Nhial Bitoang to withdraw his army as his actions is against International Humanitarian law. Again, after lengthy discussions, he took them back to Military Barrack.”

“Today, 11^th May 2022 Maj Gen Justin Nhial Bitoang arrest two innocence Youths again namely CHAN REY LIEP and KOANG DOBUOL in Nasir main Market and took them to Wech-Yaradiw with military truck,  their hands are being tied at the back and were seriously beaten and kicking repeatedly with military boots and branches of trees. Up to now, nobody knows whether they are being killed or still a live as Maj Gen Justin Nhial Bitoang refused to talk to neither County authority nor elders of the Community. I can honestly state that their lives are at the highest risks.

“As matter of urgently, this gross violation from Maj Gen Justin Nhial Bitoang should be condemned in the strongest terms possible and immediate intervention to rescue the lives of these two gentlemen by all peace monitoring mechanisms, CTSAMVM, JDB, R-JMEC for immediate release.

“Should Maj Gen Justin Nhial Bitoang keep targeting, tortured and detaining Youths in Nasir would provoke the situations and would likely trigger major confrontations unless extra measures are not put in place against Maj Gen Justin Nhial Bitoang.”