The police authorities in Nimule town of Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria state on Tuesday released six pastors of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s (ECSS) Rei Church who were arrested for instigating insecurity in the church last Sunday.
Nimule Police Inspector Major David Kasmiro told Radio Tamazuj that the clergy of the Rei Church of Nimule Diocese has been embroiled in internal wrangling for a long time. According to him, the six including Rev. Daniel Magok, Rev. Lazarus Chol, Rev. Peter Alier, Rev. Abraham Makech, Rev. Joseph Akol, and Rev. Joseph Kom allegedly attacked Rev. Daniel Mabok on Sunday.
Kasmiro disclosed that the pastors have been released without any charges after investigations as they wait for trial.
“They were released, we carried out investigations, released them, and forwarded the case to court. The court case has been opened but is now left for the judge to decide their court proceeding day. There were no charges. They were just released without charges. It is the judge to find out later in court if there will be charges. The release is free because the incident is not related to money value that is why they are released without charges but later they will be tried in court," he said.
Assistant Bishop of Nimule Diocese Rt. Rev. Gabriel Angok has acknowledged the internal wrangling and said the issue will be solved by the region's Archbishop Rt. Rev. Ogeno Charles.
For his part, Archbishop Ogeno condemned the incident and called on the clergy to resolve their differences through church teachings.
“I condemn, I condemn and I condemn that is a satanic way of acting because whenever there is a problem, we as Church leaders have humble ways of solving it but not by force. That is against the constitution and even against our Canon. That is why the police were trying to find out from me. What I said to them, is now beyond the Church level because it has become like insecurity. How can you go and begin fighting in the Church? Because when it comes to fighting, it is not our concern, it is the concern of the government and in fact, the government went and arrested them," he said.