Rumbek Central Prison in Lakes State - Courtesy

The mother and uncle of a girl have been thrown in prison in Rumbek of Lakes State after she fled in fear of being forced to marry a man against her will, an advocate confirmed.

Miss Jenifer Bill Maker fled to Kenya in December 2023 to escape the matrimony reportedly arranged by her paternal uncles and her admirer, who has already paid more than 100 cows without her consent.

Her mother, Amer Nuer, 42, and uncle Matur Nuer, 38, were arrested in the same month that Jenifer left – on accusations that they helped plotted the girl’s escape.

They were released in January 2024. However, Matur and Amer were arrested again in February, and have since remained in detention.

Advocate Malieth Jokpiong, the family’s defense lawyer, said the man seeking to marry the girl, is Dr. Akol Mathiang, the current Deputy Governor of Lakes State.

In an interview with Eye Radio, Jokpiong, a member of Rumbek-based Humanity Law Chamber, said Dr. Mathiang was rejected by Jenifer and her mother in 2022 – when he was still the commissioner of Cueibet County.

“There were marriage arrangements in 2022 between the Deputy Governor and the relative of the girl’s uncles from the father’s side but that marriage arrangement was rejected by the girl and her mother,” Jokpiong said.

He narrated that the girl continued with her studies while her paternal uncles secretly proceeded with marriage arrangements and dowry negotiation.

According to the advocate, prosecutors in the state have charged the detained mother with kidnapping her own daughter.

“After finishing her secondary examination, her mother arranged for her to flee to Kenya for her safety. The girl’s uncle decided to file a police case against the mother and her brother for kidnapping the girl,” he said.

Jokpiong, however, dismissed the kidnapping charges – arguing in reference to the law – that biological parents and legal guardians cannot be charged with kidnapping of their children.

He said the court is waiting to hear from the prosecutor’s witness in the next session scheduled for the 2nd of April 2024.

“The mother was accused of kidnapping. According to our law, parents and legal guardians can’t be charged with kidnapping. Now we heard the prosecutor case, we remain with the defense which will be presented on the 2^nd of April.”

Speaking to Eye Radio from prison in the state, the detained uncle, James Matur said their arrest was unlawful.

“On the 20th of February, I was taken to court and then the court sent me to prison. I slept in the police with my sister,” he narrated.

“Then on the 21st, I was brought back to the court, then the court said that I have to remain in the cell for seven days, after which if I don’t bring the girl, and then another seven days.”

“Then I spent another seven days in the prison with my sister. When we were taken back, they say again there’s no investigation until we bring back the girl, whom they said is already married.”

“This is what the attorney general was trying to do, and immediately the deputy governor came and talked with them. He said these people, they have no rights.

Eye Radio’s effort to reach Deputy Governor Dr. Akol Mathiang for comment was unsuccessful.

On her part, the girl’s mother, Amer Nuer who also spoke from prison, said her daughter should be allowed to complete here education.

Amer added that those who received the dowry should pay it back to the Deputy Governor so that she will be relieved with her brother.

“I wish to be freed, if there is someone with the ability to do so. Right now, my brother and I are both under police detention,” she said.

“My daughter told me she wanted to go to school since she and I didn’t want her to get married. I took her there for school purposes, and that’s when they came to arrest me.”

“That man was rejected by my daughter. My spouse is deceased, and I just have two girls. For the owner to quit claiming my daughter and free me, they ought to give the cows back to him.”

A statement from the state government on March 14, 2024, confirmed the forced marriage case which it said has reached the attention of Governor Rin Tueny, after trending on social media.

“The governor advised both parties to adhere to the young lady’s wish to continue her studies and referred the matter to Rumbek County Judge under Justice Akel Alex Akok to settle the matter legally,” reads the statement signed by the state minister of Education, Paul Cueibet Ayang.

The statement confirmed that the deputy governor paid dowry to the family despite being rejected by the girl and her mother.

It said the matter is now in court and called for non-interference from both parties.

“Lakes State leadership under Governor Rin Tueny Mabor is very deliberate and vocal against early and forced marriage. We have both the state and national legislations that clearly prohibit forced marriage.”

In July 2022, Governor Rin Tueny outlawed child and forced marriage throughout Lakes State, in an order declared during his tour of the Loreto Girls School in Rumbek town.

The governor disclosed that the state parliament enacted a law prohibiting early child and forced marriage, to safeguard girls’ education and ensure they don’t fall prey to perpetrators of child and forced marriage.