The police in South Sudan’s Aweil state arrested on Friday 14 members of the First Pentecostal Church for opposing authorities’ decision to demolish the structure, a cleric said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Rev. Malong Bak Malong said policemen, acting on state orders, insisted the church in Aweil town was constructed on a plot of land belonging to a Nigerian businessman.
"I am talking to you from within the prison in Aweil. We have been locked up with the criminals and we do not know when we will be released. We are 14 pastors and members of the church,” he said.
Rev. Bak said they have proper papers for land they acquired in 2017, adding the decision to demolish the church sparked quarrels.
“So when the church members rejected orders to demolish the church, some church members were beaten and arrested by the police,” he said
He urged the president’s office to intervene to resolve the matter.
Peter Geng, a church member, said Bak and several others were arrested for rejecting government’s decision to demolish the church.
He said the detainees either be released or allowed to face justice.
Government officials were not immediately available to comment.