Several houses were destroyed in various neighborhoods in Yei town on Monday night, after an unknown group set fire on homes at night, according to eyewitnesses.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Edina Modo, a local resident whose house got burned at Gabat area, said the fire burnt her house after she fell into a deep sleep.

“I was sleeping inside my house and I came realize that when there was too much heat inside the house, so when I realized my room was burning, I rushed out, but unfortunately most of my valuable belongings, including beds, mattresses, clothes and utensils got burned,” she said.

“I thought it was my house only, but my neighbours also told me that three different houses got burned within the area of Gabat,” she added.

Edina called on the state government to investigate the incident and take the perpetrators to court.

Meanwhile, Henry Bida, a local resident residing in Hai Guafa, said about four other houses also caught fire in the area on Monday night.

“We don’t know what was wrong, we heard the voice of our neighbor crying for help and when we woke up, we saw fire all over, and we rushed with some water to put the fire off,” he said.

A police officer, who preferred not to be named, told Radio Tamazuj that seven other houses were reported destroyed by fire in Lomuku and Kanjoro areas at night.

“We are still investigating these incidents, it seems like there is an organized group whose aim is to burn down houses in Yei town,” he said.

However, the police officer claimed that the relevant authorities are working to apprehend the perpetrators.

Photo: A house burning in Yida camp, 15 November 2013 (Radio Tamazuj)