A Blue Nile refugee died in police custody in Maban County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State on Thursday, local sources said. The victim was identified as Hadid Sirdal, a father of four children and resident of Yusuf Batil camp.
Hamed Mahjoub, head of the popular committee at Yusuf Batil camp, told Radio Tamazuj that the Blue Nile refugee was arrested by the police outside a mosque at 9:00 pm.
“The victim was suffering from a psychological problem. He was found by the police talking alone near the mosque, saying I have failed to get food ration today, so what I can do,” he said.
He further claimed the arrested man died in police custody after being tortured. He pointed out that the police admitted that the refugee died after being detained in a container without ventilation in Bunj town.
The Blue Nile leader described the killing of the Blue Nile refugee by the police as “unfortunate”. He added the incident caused outrage among refugees in the camp, but the refugees were calmed by traditional leaders.
Mahjoub blamed the administration of Yusuf Batil camp for allowing a police patrol to enter the camp. “Allowing the police to enter the camp without any permission from the native administration is a big mistake,” he explained.
Mahjoub revealed that a criminal case has already been opened with the police, however, he stressed that the native administration will follow up the case seriously. He disclosed that they received the dead body from the police in the presence of the head of the native administration.
Meanwhile, Ramadan Babo, an imam of the mosque, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj the arrest of the Blue Nile refugee by the police occurred outside the mosque on Thursday night.
“Yes it is true. Hadid was arrested when I was inside the mosque, I heard him complaining because he failed to receive his food ration that day. So, a police patrol came and ordered him to sit down, but when he resisted the policemen beat him and took him with their vehicle to an unknown destination,” he explained.
Hamed Mahjoub said incidents of killings occurred several times in the County, but without any investigation and justice talking place. The Blue Nile leader also called on the UNHCR to investigate what had happened at the camp so perpetrators are brought to book.