Tensions have escalated between two families at a cattle camp in Rumbek East County as a result of a disturbing incident. Police authorities in Lakes State have confirmed that a girl from one family, who was found to be pregnant, had allegedly been impregnated by a man from the other family. The situation took a violent turn when the girl’s brother shot and critically wounded the man suspected of impregnating his sister.
The unsettling incident unfolded at the Toch cattle camp in Rumbek East County on Wednesday. Maj. Elijah Mabor Makuac, the spokesperson for the police in Lakes State, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the suspect shot and gravely injured the man who was set to marry his sister.
“One incident happened at Toch Wetland whereby somebody shot and wounded a person and the suspect fled. The victim was taken to Rumbek State Hospital to receive treatment,” Makuac stated. “Up to now, the victim remains in a critical condition and the suspect is still at large.”
The motive behind the shooting appears to be tied to the allegations of impregnation and elopement. Makuac explained: “According to the information we received, the victim who was courting the girl for marriage had been making preparations to officially ask the family of the girl in a traditional marriage ceremony. Unfortunately, he was shot while on the way to collect cattle for the traditional marriage.”
The police officer said the assailant ambushed the victim and shot him before fleeing the scene. He pointed out that security forces are actively pursuing the perpetrator in order to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. Makuac stressed the importance of apprehending the suspect to shed light on the motives behind the shooting:
“Up to now the security forces are still pursuing the perpetrator in order to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting incident. He needs to be arrested to conduct an investigation into why again he shot somebody who is already mobilizing cows as dowry for a marriage process,” he said.
Maj. Elijah Mabor revealed that tensions have reached a boiling point in the two cattle camps involving the relatives of the pregnant girl and the wounded man. He provided more insight into the relationship between the two individuals:
“Indeed, the girl was pregnant and she had eloped with the man who had agreed and was preparing to marry her in the traditional way. Everything and negotiations for the dowry had been agreed upon by both families, only for the victim to get shot as he was travelling to the cattle camp to collect cattle from his uncles, relatives and friends,” he stated.