The National Security Service in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State on Tuesday evening freed the political activist Bona Bak Apeny.
Bak, who is a critic of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State governor, Tong Akeen, was arrested on Monday morning in Aweil town after he posted on his Facebook page that the government was not truthful and was inflating the quantities of sorghum, popularly known as dura, it had imported from neighboring Sudan.
Controversy arose when the government said it imported 16 trucks of sorghum while the activist said there were only two trucks. The food was meant to be sold at affordable government-set prices to allow the state’s citizens to secure food.
A source at the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State police who preferred anonymity told Radio Tamazuj this morning that the activist was set free and added that it was not clear whether there was a case opened against him or not.
“Bona Bak was released two days ago. Of course, the order was not implemented by the police and I don’t know whether the implementing side opened the case or not,’’ the police source said.
Bak, who is also an active member of the state SPLM youth league, told our reporter today (Friday) that he was picked on Monday morning and detained till Tuesday evening. He said he was not tortured.
“I am currently in my house. They (national security) arrested me on Monday until Tuesday evening. No, they didn’t torture me,’’ Bak said.
For his part, Santino Deng Ngong, the executive director of Aweil Community Based Organizations Forum (ACBOF), a leading civil society coalition in the state applauded the government for releasing Bak Apeny without conditions.
Ngong explained that civil society is keen on ensuring that freedom of expression prevails in the state and called upon the government to use lawful means rather than arresting and intimidating citizens.
“I am really glad to hear the good news that the detained young man from the SPLM youth league has been released. We are glad because our government has heard our voices and has taken the initiative to release our young brother without conditions,” Ngong said. “We don’t want freedom of expression to die in this state and we need our people to express themselves when they feel unhappy about anything that is happening in the state.”