Chief Ramadan Juma Wani, the Head Chief of Gondokoro Payam of Juba County - Credit: Madrama James/Eye Radio

At least 19 people including four chiefs have been detained amid an ongoing disarmament in the area, the Head Chief of Gondokoro Payam of Juba County has said.

Ramadan Juma Wani says armed forces stormed the area and assaulted the villagers including chiefs on Sunday.

This forced the local population to flee the area.

Juma said narrated to reporters along the Juba river bank this morning what happened.

“On 31^st on Sunday there was a problem. When they came, they just started an assault on the chiefs and youth, and they beat them badly, until now something like 19 people are missing among them are 4 chiefs. To this day we have not seen them, the question is where are they,” Chief Juma said.

Nelson Swaka who is a youth leader in Mononyik Boma testified he was among those beaten by the disarmament forces.

According to him, the forces confiscated their belongings including money and animals.

“They arrested us and started beating and while beating us. They said they wanted guns and we told them that we don’t have guns,” Swaka said.

“As the residents of Gondokoro and Citizens who are part of the National Government, they continued to beat us, and they took our things,” he said.

“They took from us goats and money and they beat our Chiefs and took some of our chiefs with them, and they say to release them, we have to pay with cows and money.”

Meanwhile, Kandida Juan, a women leader in Godokoro is calling on the national government to rescue the civil population in the area.

“We just came out this morning [Tuesday] because we were told that the government is coming, but children are dying. At 5 O’clock yesterday, they took our children, and I don’t know if our children are still alive or not,” Juan said.

“I just want the government to rescue our children and bring back our children, mothers are not happy, mothers came out because of our children there,” she said.