A security officer killed in Juba on Monday was mourned in his home state Northern Bahr al Ghazal after the arrival of his body to Aweil yesterday.
SPLA Division 3 Commander Major-General Santino Deng Wol and the acting Mayor of Aweil Simon Tong Deng attended a mourning service for the late Akok Kuol Akuar held at Udhum Catholic Church on Tuesday. The body was then taken to his home village Panchuei in Aweil West County for burial.
In his remarks, Major-General Santino Deng referred to reports that the suspected killer was a Bari or Mundari who had opened fire on the late while he was passing by on a road in Juba. He urged mourners not to consider revenge against the mentioned tribes but to consider it an individual case.
“We should not hold Bari, Mundari or other community members responsible for committing this murder, this will be considered as individual case,” he said.
Akok Kuol was serving as a second lieutenant on the Presidential Close Protection Unit, the National Courier reported. He was slain alongside National Security Officer Deng Kucdit.
Authorities have not identified the killer but they said he was also shot and died of his wounds at a hospital in Juba. Referring to reports that the killer had been having family problems prior to the shooting and did not deliberately target the two victims, the Aweil mayor said that guns should not be carried where civilians live.