Security forces in Rumbek East County of Lakes State said they had killed a young man regarded one as one of the most “notorious criminals” in the county.
Elijah Mabor Makuac, the state police spokesman, told Radio Tamazuj on Saturday that the man, identified as Malok Marial Deng, was killed during a confrontation with the armed forces in Atiaba Payam on Thursday. He pointed out that the operation also led to the recovery of sixteen stolen cattle.
According to Elijah, the incident was a response to a recent cattle raid carried out by armed criminals from Rumbek East County, during which they stole 16 cows from Yirol West County and abducted a 14-year-old cattle boy who was tending to the herd. The cattle boy was later released safely, and he reported the incident to the police, though he could not identify the raiders.
“After the raiders reached Rumbek East County with the stolen cows, the security forces spotted them and pursued them, successfully recovering the rustled cattle and returning them to their rightful owners in Yirol West County,” Maj. Elijah Mabor explained.
He, however, said the situation escalated when the criminals retaliated by launching an attack in Atiaba Payam.
Maj. Elijah Mabor confirmed that eight criminals were involved in the fighting, and the security forces were able to identify Malok as the one who was killed. He stated, “The one that was killed was identified by the name Malok and that he is from Panawac Payam of Rumbek East County.”
Maj. Elijah Mabor emphasized that all the stolen cattle have been successfully recovered and returned to their rightful owners before the criminals’ subsequent attack on the security forces’ outpost. He further disclosed that Malok was a high-profile criminal and the most wanted person in the state due to his involvement in numerous cattle raids and child abductions.
“He was not arrested but killed during the gunfight between his gang of criminals and the armed forces. He was killed in action during a confrontation with the armed forces,” Maj. Elijah Mabor stated, clarifying the circumstances of Malok’s demise.