The local authorities in Wangkei Payam in Unity State’s Mayom County have apprehended three suspects in connection with an attack in the area on Monday.
According to officials, the detained suspects allegedly killed a community elder in the past and have a history of revenge-related violence and killings within Wangkei.
Mayom County Commissioner John Bol Mayak said the suspects were apprehended Monday after exchanging fire with the police.
“The authorities in Mayom County have taken action against the armed men who committed a crime against administrators in Wangkei Payam,” he stated. “An investigation is underway to shed light on the motive that led the suspects to attack the payam administrators.”
Bol said one of the suspects was injured during the exchange of fire with the police and is now receiving treatment at the health facility in Wangkei but said officials are worried that the relatives of the elder the suspects killed might attack the health facility to avenge.
“There have been known disputes that have been reported between two youth groups some of who attacked the police station at Wangkei Payam and people are now living in fear because of the tension between the two armed youth groups and the police,” the commissioner added.
Bol said he has ordered the arrest of 15 members of the criminal youth group responsible for crimes against various communities in and around Wangkei Payam.
“Once investigations are complete, the suspects will be sent to Mayom headquarters where official criminal charges will be brought against them by the law,” Commissioner Bol said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Riak Koang, a member of the civil society in Unity State, confirmed the arrest of three armed youths on Monday. He said the continuous intra-communal violence was detrimental and made appealed to the government to deploy unified forces to mitigate the situation.
“I am appealing to the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU) to deploy members of the Unified Forces, especially the police to hot spot areas in Mayom County,” Dr. Koang urged.