The police in Lakes State have confirmed that four army officers have been arrested in connection to the torture of an influential local chief from Yirol East County at the Maburzeet Prison in Yirol West County.
Chief Andrew Madut Buoi is said to have been taken in for allegedly felling mahogany trees illegally and tortured on Sunday.
A police investigator in Yirol West County, Jok Anyuat, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the four suspects are from the SSPDF and are being detained at the National Security facility in Yirol West County.
“When the chief was beaten, I was the one who gave him form 8 and he was taken to the hospital for treatment. I followed him for investigations and he gave me details of nine military soldiers who participated in his beating. He also claimed these people were ordered by Lt. Col. Makuei Achieny,” he said.
“There is no police involvement in his torture. The issue was between Chief Madut Buoi with military soldiers in Maburzeet and the ministry of forestry authorities over the issue of felling mahogany as timber. No one from the police was involved. The police have no presence in Maburzeet. Those who are in Maburzeet are SSPDF, not police,” Anyuat stressed.
William Koji Kirjok, the state caretaker minister of information and communication in Lakes State confirmed the arrested and said justice will be served.
“I would like to say the state government has condemned it in the strong terms possible and those who have attacked Chief Madut Buoi are arrested for investigations,” he said.
Koji said the chief is still receiving treatment at the Yirol Hospital.