The South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) on Thursday said it recorded four deaths and five injuries as a result of violence, 14 accidents with minor injuries, and that four suspected criminals were arrested on the eve and New Year`s Day across South Sudan.
SSNPS Spokesperson Colonel John Kassara Nhial described the situation across the country as relatively calm except for some minor incidents.
He said that on 31 December 2024, a male sergeant from the South Sudan People`s Defense Forces (SSPDF) was shot dead in his house by unknown gunmen in Abyei town and the police visited the scene to conduct an investigation but no arrests have been made. He also reported that on New Year’s Eve, a 45-year-old male captain of the SSPDF was found dead behind Jebel market in Juba and the police’s forensic team went to the scene and took the body to the mortuary and a case was opened in Jebel Police Division and investigations are ongoing.
Col. Kassara said on New Year`s Day, an operative of the National Security Services (NSS) died after being stabbed by a suspected criminal at the New Site residential area and that a case was opened at the Munuki Police Division. On 1 January, a 42-year-old male police sergeant who was drunk shot and injured himself in the Gumbo-Sherikat suburb east of Juba and is receiving treatment. On the same day, a suspected gangster was shot and injured in the leg by an unidentified person and the victim was taken to hospital. On New Year’s Day at around 1:30 a.m. one person was attacked by a gang using machetes but was rescued by the joint security forces and the suspected criminals were arrested and detained at sector four.
Also, on 1 January at around 6 p.m., an unknown gunman shot and injured a motorcycle taxi (boda-boda) rider in the leg in Juba’s Suk Hajar. On the same day at around 11 p.m., a gangster assaulted a 19-year-old male using a machete in Gumbo-Shirkat and the victim was taken to hospital for treatment. The accused gangster was apprehended by Sector One forces.
Kassara also said that on New Year’s Eve at around 9 a.m., four suspected gangsters in possession of machetes were arrested in the Thongpiny residential area in Juba.
He added that the traffic police registered 14 minor accidents with one death in the last 72 hours of the New Year and warned drivers against drunk driving.
“There is no safe way to combine alcohol, drugs, and driving I would urge anyone not to get behind the wheel if intoxicated, to ensure they protect themselves and those around them,” he said.