A South Sudanese man has disappeared mysteriously since May last year when security agents arrested him at Juba International Airport, family members said.

On 4 May 2017, National Security agents in Juba detained Nelson James Adiang, nicknamed Hassan Sas, who was working with Eagle Air Company, after he allegedly took pictures of government troops and fuel being transported to Upper Nile region.

His brother Omaj James told Radio Tamazuj today that Nelson was picked from his office at the airport by national security officials and taken to an unknown location.

“We were informed that Nelson was arrested by National Security agents at the airport. A national security officer with the rank of Major is the one who arrested Nelson,” Omaj said.

“We tried many times to look for him in NSS detentions, but they tell us that Nelson is not there,” he added.

Omaj further said the family is concern over Nelson’s disappearance mysteriously in the nation’s capital Juba after being detained by security officials.

“Maybe there is a reason for his detention, but the family wants confirmation that he is in detention and he is okay,” he said.

“We heard that he was accused of taking pictures of soldiers travelling to Upper Nile for military operations. But there is no truth in the accusation, and we think that there was a personal issue which is an arbitrary arrest,” he said.

“We went to the Eagle Air office at the airport where he was arrested, but they said Nelson’s arrest was related to security matters.”

Civilians for Peace and Justice (CPJ), a South Sudanese human rights entity, said Nelson James should either be charged with a recognized offence and presented before a competent court or immediately released.

CPJ’s head Modo Philip said family members have not heard anything regarding Nelson’s whereabouts in Juba since last year.