A South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) soldier on Thursday evening shot and killed his brother-in-law in Aweil East County of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, police and local officials said.
Sergeant Major Atak Thiel killed his brother-in-law, Bol Marol Yak, in Uyon village of Baac Payam in Aweil East County over one cow and reported himself to the SSPDF Division 3 base in Wunyiik.
Capt. Guot Guot Akol, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State police spokesman, confirmed the incident to Radio Tamazuj and said, “What happened on Thursday evening around 6:30 pm in the village of Uyon in Baac Payam in Aweil East County was that a Sergeant Major belonging to the SSPDF, Atak Thiel, came to his brother- in-law’s house and shot him three times. Two bullets in the head and one in the chest and he died immediately.’’
“He went and handed himself over to the SSPDF Division 3 headquarters in Wunyiik. According to the information, they were disputing over dowry cattle. Of course, the deceased, Bol Marol Yak, is a spouse to Atak Theil’s sister,” Capt. Guot added. “Atak was promised one cow by his brother-in-law but the in-law sold that cow and the promise was dishonoured. So, from there the dispute emerged and caused the killing. That was what happened.’’
Peter Majok Kuot, the Executive Director in Aweil East County, said the incident is related to traditional norms because the killer soldier was requested for a cow to support himself from the deceased who did not provide it.
“What happened in Uyon, the soldier Atak Thiel killed his in-law Bol Marol based on traditional norms because he was requesting one cow from the deceased relative to rescue his children from hunger. The in-law bought one cow and sold it, so he said I will kill him since my children are starving and he refuses to give me one cow,’’ Majok said.