In the aftermath of Wednesday’s chaos in Wau town, Joseph Garang, Deputy Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, reassured the public, urging calm amidst misleading information about the violence.
On Wednesday afternoon, the town witnessed the closure of shops and public anxiety when two individuals engaged in a fight in Eastern Bank under unclear circumstances. However, the situation escalated later in the day, resulting in three fatalities in the area.
As the altercation unfolded, a police officer intervened by firing warning shots into the air to separate the individuals, causing civilians to scatter in fear, triggering a town-wide panic. In the Jou main market, a mentally compromised individual began throwing stones at people, prompting a widespread reaction of people running for safety.
Speaking to the media on Thursday evening at the state council of ministers, the deputy governor clarified that upon receiving reports of the issue in Eastern Bank, security forces were promptly dispatched to the scene, effectively bringing the situation under control.
“At 11:00 AM, we received a report of a problem in Eastern Bank, and we immediately sent our security officers to assess the situation. It turned out to be a fight between two individuals, and the police present intervened to control the situation. There was nothing more than this, but surprisingly, people started to run everywhere,” narrated the deputy governor.
Garang stated, “We, as the government, want to assure the public that Wau is calm. If there is any update on the situation in the state, the government will keep you informed. Everyone should resume their work because the situation is stable in Wau Town.”
He clarified, “What happened was an isolated incident, but people misunderstood it and spread misinformation, causing panic.”
Garang urged all government offices to resume operations and encouraged businesses to reopen without fear. “We want people to return to their offices to address their social and daily life matters. Markets should resume operations because we aim to close this chapter of violence,” he added.