Barricade tape for crime scene (Courtesy)

Northern Bahr el Ghazal government has confirmed that a suspect accused of sexually abusing an 11-year-old child has been arrested and transferred to Aweil Central Prison amid ongoing investigation.

The state Minister of Information Zacharia Garang confirmed that the incident occurred on December 26 in Aweil East where the suspected allegedly raped the minor in Majok Yenthiow area.

Garang said the unidentified 31-year-old man was apprehended the next day and remanded to the maximum security prison pending an investigation.

In an interview with Eye Radio from Aweil on Tuesday, he revealed that the suspect would be arraigned in court to face charges over the incident.

“A girl was molested by a guy in Aweil East, and that guy is arrested. He is in custody in Aweil Central Prison,” he stated.

“The incident happened in Majok-Nyenthiow on 26^th December 2024 and immediately when the Authorities learn of this incident the suspect was arrested and he was brought to Aweil central prison on date 27^th of December this year.”

Similar cases of child sexual abuse have been reported in the state in recent years – with suspects prosecuted in constitutional courts.

A Catholic priest was convicted for sexually assaulting two altar boys in Aweil West County in April 2024 before his guilty verdict was overturned seven months later over insufficient evident against him upon review of the case details and procedural records.

In March 2023, the High Court in Aweil town sentenced a Sudanese trader and religious leader to 19 years in jail for defiling a minor and attempting to rape another in February.

In May 2022, a foreign trader was found guilty and convicted to death for raping and murdering a five-year-old girl in Aweil and is currently awaiting execution at Wau Central Prison.

Abu Sam was found guilty in the rape, murder, and dumping of the toddler Abuk Lual in a pit latrine—a gruesome crime that gripped the state.