Governor Louis Lobong Lojore [Standing] speaks to a group of detained girls at a police facility in Torit on April 6, 2026 - Photo credit: Governor Office

Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong Lojore has issued a directive requiring parents to provide formal guarantees and commitments to rehabilitation before the girls are released to their families.

The decision follows a directive from Governor Louis Lobong Lojore after the arrest of more than 50 people in Torit. The group, which includes 14 girls, was apprehended for allegedly carrying weapons such as machetes and causing public disorder.

Under the new directive, male suspects have been moved to Juba for rehabilitation. The girls remain in state custody in Torit.

The State Minister of Information, Elia John Ahaji, stated that the girls will stay in police custody until their parents or guardians come forward.

He explained that the move aims to address organized crime and remove suspects from the influence of those who sponsor their activities.

“These are people who have been terrorizing the people of Eastern Equatoria,” Minister Ahaji said. “We need them to be rehabilitated so they become useful citizens in a quiet place, free from any interference.”

The Minister clarified that the release of the girls depends entirely on parental intervention. Parents must sign a commitment taking full responsibility for their children’s future behavior.

“The state government is waiting for parents to come and write a commitment,” Ahaji added. “They must undertake that they are taking their daughter and making sure she does not return to these activities.”

Authorities warned that if parents do not appear, the individuals will remain in custody.

The government maintains that these actions follow the law. While some suspects claim to be minors, the Minister noted that many are adults, including some lactating mothers. He stressed that legal advisors are guiding the process to ensure no laws are violated.

The measures are intended to curb street violence and reinforce the role of the family in preventing crime. “If they don’t want to appear, then the child has to wait,” the Minister stated. “Everything has to go through the law because we cannot violate our own law.”