A revenge attack in Imehejek Administrative Area, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan, has resulted in the death of a 34-year-old man identified as Elia Moses. According to Imehejek Chief Administrator Matthew Oromo, the incident occurred on Sunday evening in Lacharok village, Lomayobo Boma. Elia Moses accidentally shot and wounded a 9-year-old girl, Ihatar Karlo, who was a babysitter for the children of Joseph Ojok.
The incident began when Elia Moses had a confrontation with his brother-in-law, whom he intended to shoot but ended up wounding the young girl instead. Joseph Ojok, the girl's employer, then hunted down Elia Moses and killed him. Chief Administrator Matthew Oromo described the incident as a case of revenge and stated that Ojok is currently on the run.
The killing has raised concerns among local authorities, who had recently engaged community members in a peace dialogue to prevent such violence. Lieutenant Colonel Pio Oromo Thomas, the SSPDF Operations Commander in Imehejek Administrative Area, confirmed the incident and assured that security forces are working to apprehend the suspect. He expressed disappointment that the community had agreed to cooperate with the government to resolve disputes amicably.
Lieutenant Colonel Pio Oromo Thomas urged residents to cooperate with government authorities and report criminal incidents rather than resorting to violence. He recalled that he had previously told the community to stop reckless killings and instead report problems to him for amicable resolution. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, including from the Lopit community leadership in Torit.
Ustaz Ambrose Oyet Albino, Chairperson of the Lopit Community in Torit, condemned the killing and appealed to residents to reject revenge attacks and allow the law to take its course. He emphasized that the relatives of the injured girl should cooperate with authorities to ensure justice is served, rather than taking the law into their own hands.
The community leader commended local authorities and security personnel for their efforts to address the situation and called for peaceful resolution of disputes through established legal and customary mechanisms. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining peace and security in the region, despite efforts by local authorities to engage communities in peace dialogues.
The search for Joseph Ojok continues, and it remains to be seen whether he will be apprehended and brought to justice. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for communities to work together with authorities to prevent revenge attacks and promote peaceful resolution of disputes.
Key points
- A 34-year-old man was killed in a revenge attack in Imehejek Administrative Area, Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan.
- The incident occurred after the man accidentally wounded a 9-year-old girl, and her employer's retaliation resulted in the man's death.
- Local authorities have condemned the killing and are working to apprehend the suspect, with calls for peaceful resolution of disputes through established mechanisms.
