A 40-year-old businesswoman identified only as Margret was shot and injured by a criminal and robbed of 170,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) by an armed criminal on Sunday night in the Eastern Equatoria State capital, Torit.
According to local authorities, Margaret who brews and sells local brew to survive was followed by an unidentified gunman up to her home before being shot and robbed.
Last Month, a gang destroyed shops in Torit Market, raising concerns about the deteriorating security in the town.
Torit Mayor Mustafa Albino Zacharia Mayor told Radio Tamazuj that the incident happened between 10 and 11 p.m. on Sunday and that the victim was rushed to Torit State Hospital for treatment.
“This woman brews local drinks for sale and raised about SSP 170,000 that day and someone with a pistol followed her to her home and threatened her and took away her money before shooting her in the right hand,” he said. “The good thing is that the bullet did not touch any bone and her condition is stable. This criminal with a pistol is suspected to be the same person who threatened another person in Morwari.”
Mayor Albino added: “The woman is called Margret and is over 40 years old.”
For her part, Lilly Hidita, the chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce in Eastern Equatoria State, confirmed the incident and described it as unfortunate. She said businesswomen are living in after the attack.
“We heard of a woman who was shot in her hand and it is unfortunate. Every businesswoman is now worried about going about their activities fearing that they will be targeted,” she bemoaned. “We do not expect this to happen and it will hinder business. I appeal to our people to allow women to do business as a means of giving service. This is a poor woman who is struggling to provide for her children.”
Meanwhile, Davidika Ikai, the chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria State Women’s Association, condemned the attack and urged the government to investigate and bring perpetrators to book.
“I think this man was drinking there and saw when the woman was counting a lot of money and thought of robbing her. This is very bad,” she said. “If someone sweats working to get something to support the family and you wait to rob them, it is very bad. Such people have to be found and should face the law.”
No suspect has been arrested in connection to the crime.