Local authorities in Rubkona County in Unity State have confirmed that a suspect identified as Wadar Diel was apprehended by security personnel while trying to escape after setting his cousin’s shop on fire on Thursday night.
The commissioner of Rubkona County, Gatluak Whicar, told Radio Tamazuj Friday that Diel had lent his cousin, Tutdel Gai, money to build a shop and wanted his money back.
“Somebody has burned down houses because he had a problem with his cousin who had borrowed SSP 6, 000 from him,” Commissioner Wjhicar said. “He burned a local shop where his cousin was sleeping and the fire spread out and also burned down other houses.”
He said 2 people, Tutdel Gai, 28, and another only identified as Both, 7, perished in the fire and 3 others sustained severe burns.
“When he (Diel) set the fire to the shop, he ran away on the road to Mayom County and when he reached a place called Tur in Norlamweal Payam, he was apprehended by security personnel who are now on the way bringing him back to me,” Commissioner Whicar said.
He said Wadar Diel wanted back the money he had lent Tutdel Gai after the duo jointly finished building a small shop out of local materials.
“Tutdel told him (Diel) to allow him to invest the money and that he would refund it later but the former refused to wait for 2 days,” the commissioner explained. “He told Tutdel one of the two things will happen; either I will kill you or burn you in the shop.”
He said the deceased and others have been living in shops in dry areas due to flooding in the county and added that the shop is made of grass and wood.