Two women arrested as South Sudanese girl who went missing 2 weeks ago found

Police are holding two women in connection with the possible kidnapping of a 12-year-old South Sudanese girl who went missing.

Two days after Citizen TV highlighted the story, Akolde Dut Paul was surrendered to a police station by the woman who claimed she had found the minor loitering and taken her home with her.

Inside their apartment in Hazina estate, South B, Akolde's family is a grateful lot after the return of their daughter who was missing for 2 weeks.

Ajak Marial, a relative, said: “The lady that found her said she found her roaming in town and went home with her. So when she saw the story on Citizen TV, that’s when she decided to come and hand her over to the police. That’s where we found Akolde. We’re very happy that we found her safe and sound.”

Police have detained the woman who returned the missing minor to a police station after the story aired, together with her accomplice.

Akolde’s family says the police are investigating a possible kidnapping, questioning why the woman failed to report the case to the police when she found the minor and instead kept her in her home for two weeks.

The family however says they will take the minor back to her country of birth South Sudan, where she will be reunited with her mother.

Panda Paul, the girl’s aunt, said: “I’m very happy that we found her safe, and I want to appreciate everyone who participated. I was thinking maybe something bad has happened to her. But we thank God she is safe.”

Her uncle Luelbai Paul, on his part, added: “The plan of the family is to take her back to South Sudan; we want to go and understand her and talk to her. It’s still too early and maybe she’s still too traumatised we need to give her time to cool down. Her mum is also worried and waiting to see her.”

Akolde went missing on March 23; she had been sent to a nearby supermarket to buy some items.

The store accused her of shoplifting and sent her home to bring a parent. It is then that the minor walked out of the supermarket and seemingly vanished into thin air, leaving her family in agony and sparking a search that lasted two weeks.