Police in Wau town of Western Bahr el Ghazal State on Saturday freed the leader of the Luo Youth Union, Santo Madut, who was detained in an unknown location earlier this month.
For the last few months, Luo youth from Jur River County have been agitating against the government’s decision to name the newly constructed bridge over Jur River in Wau the Clement Mboro Bridge in honor of the late veteran politician Clement Mboro, who hailed from Wau.
Recently, the Luo Youth Union in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, for which Madut is a deputy chairperson, handed a petition rejecting the choice of the name of the bridge to the speaker of the Western Bahr el Ghazal State Legislative Assembly, who they asked to address their grievances within 72 hours.
However, Madut was arrested shortly after handing over the petition.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, the Western Bahr el Ghazal State Police Commissioner, Major General James Simon Yasi, confirmed that Madut was bailed out from the detention center and would be arraigned before a court of law.
“Santino Madut was arrested after the parliament speaker opened a case against him, and the law says two arguing people have to appear before a judge so that every party provides evidence before a court of law. We, as the police and as a law enforcement agency, released Santo Madut on bail,” Gen. Simon explained.
A family member, Abraham Urayo, confirmed Madut’s release on Saturday after police approved the bail. He added that although the detention was politically motivated, Madut was not tortured.
“On Saturday, procedures were made, and he was bailed out from the police detention cells. The police have carried out all the processes, and he is free now,” Uraya said.