Three men from the Nuer community in Unity State were on Tuesday evening reportedly arrested by soldiers said to be in the uniform of the Tiger Division, the elite force that guards the president.

Eyewitnesses and relatives say the men – identified as Gatdiet Peter, Massap Koang and Gatjang Dogor, aged between 35 and 40 – were taken at around 5:00pm while having tea in Juba’s Hai Thoura suburb.

Michael Thak Nguany Jal, a relative of the detainees, said the family received information on Wednesday morning that the trio was being held at the SSPDF’s Giada Barracks. He noted that their efforts to access them had not yielded results.

“They were having tea when they were picked up near Juba University by armed men. We were told this morning (Wednesday) that they are at the Tiger Barracks in Giada, but we have not received any details,” Thak told reporters. “They are civilians, not involved in politics, so we don’t know why they were arrested. We are following up with the Tiger Unit and have been told to wait for feedback. We have not yet reported to police.”

Thak appealed for their release, insisting they had committed no crime.

Bichiok Gattou, another family member, told South Sudanese local broadcaster Radio Tamazuj that one of the men, Gatdiet, is a student in the Netherlands and a citizen there. He reportedly traveled to Juba 11 days ago for his wedding.

“There is no reason for this arrest. For instance, Gatdiet just came for marriage and has no problems with anyone. Maybe they had a misunderstanding while outside, but these are students, not people engaged in illegalities,” Gattou said.

Attempts to reach SSPDF officials for comment were unsuccessful.

South Sudan’s constitution provides that suspects must be presented before a judge within 24 hours of arrest, though this is rarely observed in practice.