Oct 28, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — Two underage girls were allegedly raped by two South Sudan police officers on Thursday last week at the Maridi police station in Western Equatoria State.
The girls, aged 14 and 15, were arrested by the Maridi County Paramount chief, Daniel James Bandiko for trying to run to Juba, which is common among girls in the area, and detained at the police station.
The paramount chief expressed his disapproval of the act by the police on duty on that day saying that police are supposed to protect the people but not to oppress them.
“I am not happy because the police are supposed to keep law and order. If such a thing is happening at the police station, it is not good. As the paramount chief of Maridi I want to tell everyone that the law should take its course. If the law does not take its course, I will have a problem with whoever will downplay this case,” Chief Bandiko asserted.
The Western Equatoria state police chief, General Emmanuel Laku, said that the police were arrested after they were caught red handed in the act.
“Yes the report published is true. They were founding doing an affair with underage girls in Maridi on Wednesday night and were arrested on Thursday and they are now under detention,” General Emmanuel said.
General Emmanuel added that the two officers will face justice if investigation found them of any wrongdoing as police are supposed to protect and should not be involved in such activities
The Executive Director of the National Women Empowerment Rehabilitation Organization (NWERO), Editha Meling, described the act as a shame especially because it was done by the people who are supposed to enforce the law.
“If such a thing is being done by the police yet they are supposed to protect the people and they are the ones raping, as a woman working for the rights of women, I did not sleep because this is so painful. It is a shame for law-keepers to do such and the community will live in fear.”
The girls have since been taken to the hospital and they are receiving treatment.
“We got these girls with injuries around their private parts so I have given them medication. I want to advise all parents to fully take care of their children to avoid such from happening,” Dr. Danima advised.
