Northern Bahr el Ghazal State police today, Friday, have released 23 traditional chiefs after holding them for three days without formal charges. 

The chiefs from Maper Akot Aru and Auluic payams were arrested on Tuesday and accused of rejecting a government decision to annex their areas to Aweil municipality. But the police insisted that the chiefs were arrested after assaulting a newly sworn-in government official in Maper Akot.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State police spokesman, Capt. Guot Guot Kol said all the detained chiefs have been released following an order from the state public prosecutor. 

“I am saying all the arrested chiefs were released after the police concluded all investigations and the public prosecutor ordered for their release. They were all freed according to the orders from the public prosecutor and the police don’t have the right to question the public prosecutor,’’ said Guot. 

Jiel Dhieu, a community leader in Aweil welcomed the release and said the suggested reconciliation conference will resolve the standoff. 

“The news is good! My chiefs who were arrested have just been freed. They are 23 in number and it was said that we are going to hold a general conference in few coming days to discuss the matter in Maper Akot Aru,’’ Dhieu said. 

Speaking on behalf of the released chiefs, Paramount Chief Akot Akot Dut called for the removal of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State governor, Tong Akeen Ngor for peace to prevail. 

“We don’t want governor Tong Akeen Ngor at all because he has ruined SPLM. He destroyed the peace agreement which was signed by President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar because he tries to annex those areas which were not part of the Aweil Municipal Council. Another thing he created divisions among local chiefs,’’ Akot said.