By Hou Akot Hou
Police in Aweil North County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, have detained a 19-year-old woman over allegations that she strangled her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter in Ariath Payam earlier this week.
The suspect, identified as Athil Garang Dut Chan, is being held at the county headquarters in Gok-Machar as police investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the child, identified as Ahok Dut.
Sergeant Major Wol Atak, an investigator in Ariath Payam, said the woman was allegedly seen strangling the child at their residence.
Atak said the motive behind the alleged killing had not yet been established, stressing that investigations were still underway.
“What happened early this week is that a woman allegedly killed her own baby girl, identified as Ahok, who was about one-and-a-half years old,” Atak said.
He said preliminary information indicated that the child was allegedly strangled before being thrown into a latrine in the area.
“The woman is alleged to have killed the baby and dropped her into a latrine in the area, and that substantiates the claim,” Atak said.
The investigator said the suspect remained in police custody while authorities worked to establish the circumstances that led to the incident.
He appealed to residents to cooperate with investigators and provide any information that could help establish what happened.
Atak described the incident as deeply concerning to the local community and said the case would be handled according to the law.
“Such acts are uncalled for. Killing a human being is prohibited by the Constitution. It remains to be seen what the law will say about the mother’s act,” he said.
The incident has reportedly caused concern among residents of Ariath Payam, with authorities urging the community to remain calm while investigations continue.
The case comes amid reports of another incident involving the alleged killing of children in Aweil Town earlier this month.
In that incident, a young woman was reportedly accused of strangling her two children, a boy and a girl, following a domestic dispute with her spouse. She was also reported to have attempted to take her own life but was later rescued.
The repeated incidents have raised concerns about the need for greater attention to family welfare and community-based support mechanisms.
Some community observers have pointed to the limited availability of social and counselling services as an area requiring attention, particularly for families experiencing domestic disputes and other pressures.
Authorities have not established any connection between the two incidents, and investigations into the Aweil North case are continuing.
The suspect remains in police custody pending further investigations and possible legal proceedings.