The authorities in Rumbek North County in Lakes State have confirmed that three people were killed and three others injured over the weekend in renewed fighting between armed elements of the Nielniel and Gaak sections of the Pakam community.
The police’s chief inspector in Rumbek North County, James Nak, said that clashes that occurred in Nyang-kot village in Rumbek Central County on Friday were sparked by an attack motivated by revenge.
“The clashes happened around Rumbek Central County and it is confirmed that three people were killed, two from the Gaak side and one from Nielniel, and 3 others were wounded but the situation is now calm,” he said. “Three others sustained gunshot wounds and they are receiving treatment in Rumbek State Hospital.”
“After the fighting, the assailants went back to the Wulu territory of Rornhom and those who were attacked are around Rumbek town,” Nak added.
According to the police officer, the cause of the renewed fighting was an earlier clash in June between the two sections.
“The Nielniel attacked the Gaak section in June over the alleged elopement of one of their girls and when their people were killed, they (Nielniel) demanded that the state government apprehend the killers and execute them by firing squad,” Nak explained. “When Lakes State Governor Riny Tueny refused to execute the suspects from the Gaak section by firing squad because they acted in self-defense after being attacked by the Nielniel, the latter planned this revenge attack against the Gaak on Friday.”
The county police chief said five suspects from the Gaak section were apprehended over the June fighting and are in custody and that these are the people the Nielniel section wanted to be executed by a firing squad.
When contacted, the Rumbek State Hospital administrator, Mawet Bol, confirmed that only two people with non-life-threatening wounds are receiving treatment at the health facility.
“We have admitted only two people with minor wounds and their condition is not life-threatening,” he said. “They are stable and receiving treatment.”