Three people accused of recruiting children into armed opposition forces have been arrested in Raja, Western Bahr el Ghazal State.

Raja County Commissioner James Maradoma says the individuals included a school teacher and two government officials.

Mr. Maradoma says three the unnamed men are now under investigations.

“There was a group of youth whose intention was to form a rebellion and they were arrested by the security,” he described to Eye Radio.

“They were investigated for a period of one week, and through the investigations, they pointed at some individuals within who are organizing the youth for the rebellion.”

He says they were arrested alongside several children who were later on released to their families.

Thirteen of the youth are as young as 12, 13, and 14 years and all of them are in primary school.

“So, the security authorities released them because they are children and it is not lawful to send them to court,” Mr Maradoma added.

It’s unclear why the men tried to form an armed opposition.

(Additional information by Deng Dimo)