A senior officer with the National Security Service (NSS) has died after reportedly shooting himself in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, in an incident linked to an investigation into a missing firearm.
The officer, identified only as Marcelo, is said to have taken his own life over the weekend following a confrontation with a junior colleague during an interrogation about the missing weapon.
Lt Isaac Lino Lomana, Deputy Head of Operations at Torit Municipal Council, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Sunday evening at around 8pm. He said the officer had initially attempted to shoot a colleague who questioned him about the missing gun but missed. Fearing arrest, he then turned the weapon on himself.
Torit Mayor Mustafa Albino Zachariah confirmed the incident, stating that the officer shot himself twice. He was rushed to Torit State Hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. Mayor Zachariah added that the deceased had seized the firearm from the municipality’s operations commander during the altercation.
The colleague involved in the quarrel has been arrested and is currently held at the Military Intelligence Unit for investigation and protection. Mayor Zachariah urged security personnel to refrain from taking the law into their own hands to resolve disputes.
This incident follows the death of another NSS officer, a motorcycle rider, who died by suicide in Torit Town on 12 February.
Charles Onen Lokwaru, Chairperson of the Eastern Equatoria State Civil Society Network, expressed concern over the rising cases of suicide among security personnel. He called on division heads to educate officers on the value of human life and to address the underlying issues contributing to such incidents.
Lokwaru also appealed to security agents to avoid resorting to violence or self-harm when faced with disputes, emphasizing the need for proper legal channels to resolve conflicts.