The authorities of Kajo-Keji County in Central Equatoria State have arrested two members of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in connection with the killing of a civilian on 6 March in Jokat residential area of Kajo-Keji Town.
Kajo-Keji County Commissioner David Lisi Christopher told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that a civilian who was returning from a shopping trip to Uganda was killed and robbed of his belongings by the soldiers.
“On 6 March, some stubborn soldiers from the SSPDF killed somebody who was returning from a business trip in Uganda. The unlawful soldiers found him and simply killed him and robbed all his properties,” he explained. “They (soldiers) came with the motorcycle of the deceased to the barracks, and that is how the intelligence officers used their legal knowledge to apprehend two of them. They are in the garrison waiting for justice.”
“The body of the deceased was laid to rest in Kinyiba Boma, Kangapo Two Payam,” Commissioner Lisi added.
He condemned the incident and called for the killers to be brought to book so that justice prevails.
“What the people are asking for is justice, and we are just waiting for answers,” Lisi said.
For his part, the SSPDF commander of Kajo-Keji County, Brig. Joseph Garang said the young man was killed in cold blood during a robbery by the two soldiers.
“All the SSPDF commanders are not happy with the thing that happened to the young man in Kajo-Keji because he was killed without any reason,” he stated. “I am sure he was killed because of the business goods he was carrying on his motorcycle. I know everywhere anything bad can happen, but the law will always stand strong to solve the problem.”
Brig. Garang pledged his full support to ensure justice prevails for all civilians killed innocently in Kajo-keji County.
“I have said earlier that I will stand with this case,” he promised. “If there are any other cases of this kind that have happened in Kajo-Keji before and justice was not done, I am going to stand for all the pending cases so that the civilians and the soldiers who commit crimes will witness that justice is served to create a peaceful environment in Kajo-Keji County.”