The incident has drawn condemnations from community leaders and human rights advocates

By Emmanuel Mandella

At least one woman has died and another is in critical condition after they were brutally beaten by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Ibba County, Western Equatoria State. 

The shocking incident happened on Monday, while the women were in custody awaiting trial in connection to a missing child case in Madebe Payam.

Ibba County Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Tetela, confirmed the tragedy in an exclusive interview with The City Review, revealing that the women had been transferred from police custody to prison pending trial when CID officers reportedly took them for further questioning without proper authorization.

“They were in prison awaiting their court hearing when I received a call that CID officers had beaten them. We rushed to the hospital, where one woman was confirmed dead, and the other was unconscious,” Tetela recounted.

He further noted that the Director of CID, his deputy, and other officers implicated in the incident have been arrested and are under investigation in the state capital, Yambio.

The incident has drawn condemnations from community leaders and human rights advocates including the paramount chief, Prince Morona Sako, decrying the actions of the CID officers.

He said government must uphold human rights.

“It is unacceptable. The government is responsible for protecting citizens regardless of their crimes. We call on authorities to adhere to the Human Rights Act of South Sudan. Justice requires fair trials, respect for the law, and unbiased judgments. This tragic incident must be a wake-up call to ensure that human rights are respected at every level of governance,” Morona stated.

The family of the deceased, identified as 60-year-old Loice James, described her as their anchor in wisdom. Emmanuel Males, a relative, narrated the harrowing series of events that led to the sister’s death.

“She took a relative’s child to Madebe Payam, and while harvesting groundnuts, the child got lost. Despite extensive searches, the child was not found. The police referred the case to Ibba County for further investigation. To our horror, CID officers beat her to death after removing her from prison custody without proper legal procedure. We have lost a family treasure. She was our dictionary,” Males said.

The Chairlady of the Western Equatoria State Women General Union, Fozia Abash Barnaba, expressed outrage, calling for immediate reforms to protect women in custody.

“This brutal act against women in detention is a grave violation of human rights. The government must prioritize reforms in law enforcement to prevent such tragedies. Women deserve protection, not persecution, even when under investigation,” she asserted.

In Demand for Accountability, as investigations proceed, the incident has reignited debates on custodial rights, judicial oversight, and police brutality in South Sudan.

Public demand for accountability and justice grows, with human rights organizations urging systemic changes to safeguard detainees from abuses.

“It is unacceptable. The government is responsible for protecting citizens regardless of their crimes. We call on authorities to adhere to the Human Rights Act of South Sudan,” Prince Morona Sako, Paramount Chief in Yambio.