Authorities in Unity State say that at least seven women were gang-raped and their goods looted by armed men in uniform along the Leer-Mayiendit route.
The incident is said to have happened last Friday in an area called Juong of Leer County.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Unity State’s information minister, David Gai Jiejor, said the women were transporting goods from Leer to Mayiendit county when they were ambushed.
“The women were about eight women. Only one woman managed to escape but the others were captured and raped. After raping them, the soldiers released them,” he said. “The armed men also looted goods the women were carrying from Leer to be taken to Mayiendit County. The women were hired by a trader to transport the goods.”
Minister Gai said the state government is doing its best to identify the soldiers accused of the act saying the county commissioner is talking with commanders in the area to ensure that the accused, are brought to justice.
Gai revealed that most rape cases go unreported as the victims fear reporting to the police or visiting the health centers for fear of stigmatization.
Leer County Commissioner Stephen Taker Riek confirmed that the report was true and that forces were sent to the crime scene to investigate the unfortunate incident.
“I have sent security forces to keep monitoring the situation and to collect reports,” he said.
Stephen Thak Chan, Leer County’s Director of Health confirmed to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the seven women sought treatment at Leer Hospital where they were given some medication and discharged.
“According to the nurses or midwives in the maternity of ANC, all of them are fine. They are receiving treatment. This is what they told me right now. They were given drugs and told to go and they were given appointments to come again. All of them are fine according to the information I was told. Because they met them in the morning,” he noted.