A nurse, identified as Santino Mayom Kau, was shot in the chest at around 5 p.m. while on duty at Cueibet County Hospital. He was working with ILpara Health International and was evacuated to Rumbek State Hospital for treatment. The attack followed the death of a man who had been shot and wounded in Malou-Pech Payam before being taken to Cueibet Hospital for treatment.
According to Simon Makoi Malek, the chief medical officer of Cueibet County Hospital, the attack was a suspected revenge attack linked to the death of the patient at the facility. The deceased man's relatives became angry and attempted to kill the nurse, apparently believing that the people responsible for their relative's death came from Malou-Pech Payam.
Malek said the nurse was shot in the chest but survived after the bullet exited his body. He confirmed that the victim was receiving treatment at Rumbek State Hospital. The incident has been condemned by authorities, with Lakes State Caretaker Minister of Information, Communication, Youth and Sports William Koji Kirjok calling on authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Kirjok said preliminary information from people who witnessed the incident suggested it was linked to revenge killings. He condemned the attack and said revenge killings were not tolerated under the state's customary laws. The government was working with chiefs, community leaders, intellectuals and politicians in Cueibet County to address revenge killings and encourage communities to resolve disputes through established legal institutions.
Daniel Laat Kon, chairperson of the Civil Society Organizations Network (CISON) in Lakes State, also condemned the attack and called on the state government to address persistent revenge killings in Cueibet County. He urged authorities to apprehend those suspected of carrying out the attack and hold them accountable.
Laat also called for the disarmament of civilians, warning that recurring revenge attacks continued to threaten security in the county. Lakes State has experienced recurring revenge killings and intercommunal violence, particularly in Cueibet County, where disputes over cattle, land and personal grievances have often escalated into retaliatory attacks.
The violence has been compounded by widespread access to firearms, weak law enforcement and difficulties in resolving disputes through formal justice systems. The authorities have yet to arrest the suspected assailants, who remain at large. The incident highlights the need for increased efforts to address the root causes of revenge killings and promote peaceful conflict resolution in the region.
Key points
- The nurse was shot in the chest and evacuated to Rumbek State Hospital for treatment.
- The attack was a suspected revenge attack linked to the death of a patient at the facility.
- Authorities have condemned the attack and are working to bring those responsible to justice.
