Western Equatoria State Governor Joseph Bakosoro says about 36 local youths were arrested by SPLA 'Commandos' in Maridi County of Western Equatoria State on Wednesday without coordinating with state authorities.

“The local youths were arrested for unclear reasons. They were taken by a car to Juba on Thursday, so until now we don’t know whether they are in detention or where I don’t know,” the governor said in an interview with Radio Tamazuj yesterday.

The top state official called on MPs representing Maridi County in the National Legislative Assembly to look for the arrested youths. “Let them go and ask about the youths' whereabouts, we want to know because if anything happens to them we can ask those who took them,” he said.

Bakasoro pointed out that the state government were not informed about the arrest of the local youths in Maridi County. He deplored lack of coordination between his state and the national government in Juba

“We just saw the car that took the youths from the area. When we asked the authorities in Juba they denied any knowledge about it, and the MPs also do not know about their whereabouts,” he explained.

Justin Joseph Marona, MP representing Maridi in the National Legislative Assembly told Radio Tamazuj earlier this week that SPLA 'Commandos' in Maridi County carried out killings and arbitrary detentions a few days ago.

Separately, Governor Joseph Bakasoro that Maridi County has witnessed some insecurity and he blamed the situation on some soldiers who work without any orders from their commanders.

File photo: Governor Joseph Bakosoro (RT)