A squad of irate men unleashing gang raping crimes is causing havoc in South Sudan, with the Police in Juba arresting seven suspects in connection with the incidents.
A Police spokesperson announced the arrest of seven individuals, including a motorcycle rider, believed to be involved in a horrific gang raping of a 16-year-old girl in the Sharaat district.
The suspects are also believed to have been going around committing similar and related crimes.
According to official reports, the victim—whose identity authorities are keeping confidential to protect her privacy—was abducted by an armed gang wielding bladed weapons.
She was then forcibly taken to a private residence where the brutal crime was committed against her.
Lawyer Josephine Adhet Deng, who is handling the case, disclosed horrifying details of the incident, explaining that the girl was on her way to the market in the morning, when she got ambushed.
The victim was sent by her parents to buy groceries when she was abducted after being threatened by a motorcycle rider who was part of the criminal group.
Deng added that leaked videos of the incident had begun circulating widely on social media, showing the victim being coerced and physically assaulted, sparking widespread public outrage and demands for swift justice and maximum penalties for the perpetrators.
The victim was immediately transferred to Juba Teaching Hospital, where she is receiving necessary medical and psychological care, while public prosecutors continue intensive investigations into the case amid official assurances of thorough and decisive follow-up.
This comes at a time when the region is witnessing increasing public pressure and official demands for harsher punishments for sexual violence crimes and ensuring accountability, with emphasis on the importance of community awareness and the need to protect victims.
Reform schools proposed to curb crime
In another development, the Central Equatorial State Security Committee wants the establishment of reform schools to rehabilitate youth involved in criminal activities.
They made the proposal during an emergency meeting held in Juba.
The move aims to address rising crime cases as well as the currently increasing incidents of suicide among young people.
Chaired by State Governor Lieutenant General Rabe Moses Ngong Emmanuel, the committee emphasized the need to equip young people with vocational skills to facilitate their reintegration into society.
Local Government Minister Leon Abey Brown warned that the lack of rehabilitation institutions leads to repeat offenses, describing the schools as a “strategic step to enhance security.”
The meeting also discussed the surge in suicide cases, calling for expanded mental health support programs and community awareness campaigns with the involvement of civil society organizations.
Additionally, the committee demanded stricter oversight of clinics and drug dispensing to curb substance abuse and cautioned against impostors exploiting fake security roles to extort citizens in markets.
Governor Emmanuel reaffirmed his commitment to addressing security challenges, stressing that the recent attack on Morobo County Hospital requires urgent action to protect vital facilities.