Widespread outrage has continued to trail the auctioning of Nyalong Ngong Deng, a 17-year-old girl from South Sudan on Facebook.

Human rights campaigners have expressed fears that the auction, which netted 530 cows, three Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps and $10,000 for the girl’s parents would tempt other parents to use social media to try to improve their daughters’ dowries.

Although Facebook deleted the auction after the teenager had been married off as the tenth wife of a wealthy businessman, female lawyers in South Sudan are urging the government to shut down all online auctions.

Monica Adhiue, the Acting Executive Director for South Sudan’s National Alliance for Women Lawyers described the auction as shocking and sad, saying such barbaric acts were a violation of the fundamental human rights of the girl child.

“The practice is a gross human rights violation and violates the rights of a girl. It does not only deprive the girl child from education and limit her future opportunities in her life but also increases the risk of violence, jeopardizes her health, reduces the girl child to a property and deprives her from the right to choose,” Adhiue said.

Adhiue disclosed that some of the bidders in the auction were high-ranking government officials, stressing that they tried in vain to reach the girl’s family in an attempt to take down the Facebook post.

“They need to be suspended from their office and this case has  to be investigated and of course, whoever is involved in this auctioning also needs to be properly investigated and held accountable because this is a violation of human rights,” she added.

A photo from the Facebook post for the auction shows a tall, expressionless girl standing next to a shorter man who is smiling broadly.

The post, dated October 25 said the leading bidder for the girl has offered 500 cows and three cars for her, adding that other men had joined or were planning to join the bidding.

Under a smiley face emoji, the post read: “Competition is perfectly allowed in Dinka/Jieng culture. The kids of the winner are guaranteed for NBA slots,” the post added, referring to Ngong’s height.