Authorities in Eastern Equatoria State are holding former commissioner of Ikotos County Cirilo Akoyo for allegedly killing a young man.
Brig. Gen. Luka Obwaha Asioli, the South Sudanese military (SSPDF) chief of operations for the 7th division, said Akoyo was arrested for killing a person, amidst claims that he is still the county commissioner.
“He cut a person with a panga and then went and released someone from prison claiming he was still a commissioner, yet even the governor was relieved. So we arrested him as instructed by the chief of legal administration,” Asioli told Radio Tamazuj on Monday.
According to the military officer, the former commissioner and the person he released from prison are awaiting trial in Torit.
“He has two major crimes; one for claiming he was still a commissioner and then cutting a person using a panga,” he said.
Major Justin Kleopus Takuru, the state police commissioner, confirmed the former commissioner’s arrest by the military.
He said the former official contravened the law when he killed someone and forcefully released a prisoner.
In February, President Salva Kiir cut the number of states from 32 to 10 to pave the way for a transitional government of national unity. He then sacked the governors of all 32 states and commissioners of the various counties.
The president assigned the secretary general in each state to act as the state administrator pending the formation of state governments. He also tasked the county executive director in each county to act as the county administrator pending the formation of county authorities.