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WESTERN EQUATORIA - 1 May 2024

Ezo police inspector wounded, daughter killed by Wildlife officer

Major General Albino Utho Maraino, Police Commissioner of Western Equatoria State, reported a tragic incident involving a police inspector from Ezo County. The inspector sustained a gunshot wound to his leg, while his teenage daughter was shot and killed by a soldier from the Wildlife department.

Maraino identified Lance Corporal (LCP) Bernadeto Nafia as the suspected perpetrator. He told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that Nafia had engaged in a dispute with the inspector earlier in the day, which culminated in a violent attack on the family in the evening.

“The police inspector was shot in the leg yesterday at 7:00 PM. While his leg was injured, it did not break. Unfortunately, his daughter was fatally shot. Her body has been taken to the hospital,” Maraino stated.

“The inspector, Colonel Charles Kelisto, had a daytime quarrel with the suspect, during which the suspect threatened him. Despite the inspector expressing no issue with the suspect, the soldier attacked him in the evening at 7:00 PM, shooting him in the right leg and killing the inspector's teenage daughter,” he explained.

“The individual responsible for the shooting is Benedetto Nafia, a Line Corporal from the Wildlife department, who is currently evading capture,” he added.

Mariano emphasized that all security forces are actively searching for the suspect. “It’s not just the responsibility of the police; all security forces in the area are tasked with apprehending the suspect,” he stated.

“Yesterday, all security forces immediately responded to the scene of the crime and have been there since. The victim’s body remains at the hospital, and the entire Ezo County is under lockdown as the search for the culprit continues,” he added.

In a separate incident, the police commissioner reported that criminals attacked the Wildlife outpost barracks in the Suei area on Sunday. They used six motorbikes and stole three AK47 rifles but did not injure anyone.