A National Security Service officer, only identified as Ayiinatikii, was hanged to death by an angry mob in Budi Eastern of Equatoria State on Wednesday.
The incident happened in the Comirit neighbourhood of Chukudum town after a joint patrolling team allegedly killed a civilian.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Lino Atiol, the Paramount Chief of Budi County, said:” There was a patrol by our police and organized forces moving in the area, and there were some young boys who were shooting guns anyhow but this patrolling team went there and shot one person dead at his home. So, as a result, the community came and arrested one of the officers and hanged him to death.”
Meanwhile, Paul Lowera, the Chief of Homiri Payam, confirmed the incident, saying tension has been very high as citizens are worried over what happened.
He urged the government and community leaders to intervene in addressing the matter to allow calm to return to the area.
“Citizens are now worried, no one is going outside and nobody moves around, so people are staying in their houses,” he said.
Oreste Lopara, a National MP from Eastern Equatoria State, condemned the incident and called on the relevant authorities to investigate the incident.
“This is a very unfortunate situation that there was a patrol team taking people’s slashers and pangas and people are cultivating. They went to the home of someone, the fellow was preparing his own hoe tool for the garden, and they just shot him. After shooting the person, they ran and after that, the community followed them up to the police station to arrest the person, and after that, they hanged him,” he explained.
The State minister of local government and law enforcement agencies could not immediately be reached for comment.