Two suspects were arrested after allegedly shooting the Nzara Boma chief dead in Nimule Payam of Eastern Equatoria State while he chaired a community meeting on Monday.
Following the incident, local youths staged demonstrations and were dispersed by security forces. However, tensions remained high as the suspects were held at the military detention center.
SSPDF commander in Nimule Major Akol Amet Amet told Radio Tamazuj that Chief John Ebele of Nzara Boma was shot dead while chairing a community meeting to fundraise for the burial of two men who were slain over the weekend.
“The late chief had called a meeting over the two people who were killed the day before. They wanted to take one body to Mugali while the other will remain in Nimule. Many people gathered including bodabodas and the whole area at his compound. But one civilian came from nowhere took the gun and shot the chief. I tried my level best and brought the two of them now into the military prison,” Maj. Amet said
He identified the suspects as Atem Akwoch Akuny Alit and Matoch Mayam, both 27 years old.
Meanwhile, Nimule Payam Chief Alira William says the culprit aimed at the chief, shooting him dead at 9 am. He also said the Nimule police inspector was injured during the melee that followed later in the afternoon.
“At 3 pm, they shot the police inspector of Nimule David Kasmiro, they shot at his leg, his leg is broken, they took him to the hospital,” he claimed.
Hundreds of Nimule residents fled the town into neighboring Uganda seeking refuge, William added.
Bosco Ayella, Nimule youth leader, says the situation is deteriorating as youth protest the killings and are calling for the evacuation of community members from Jonglei State.
“Right now what the people are saying is that all the Dinka community who are not employed by the government should have to leave Nimule. That is the only solution. Every day people are being killed by the Dinka community who have traveled thousands of miles away coming on the ground here. This is the voice of the people, this is what they are saying,” Ayella said.
He called on the government to provide security to the people of Nimule to avoid further loss of lives and destruction of property.