The newly appointed governor of Lakes State, and state officials, have said one of the suspects who ambushed a vehicle belonging to the Tiger Division and killed a soldier and shot dead a woman in Pacong Payam in Rumbek East County on Sunday has been arrested.
Governor Madhang Majok Meen told the press during the signing of Lakes State Stakeholders Consultations Resolutions on renewing commitment to security and stability in Lakes State that the suspect, identified as Makim Maru Makur, was apprehended by security personnel on Monday.
” I would like to announce to you that the suspect identified as Makim Maru Makur, who killed a woman and one person from the passengers’ vehicle, has been captured on Monday morning by security forces,” he stated. “He will be dealt with in accordance with the law of Lakes State.”
When contacted, William Koji Kirjok, the acting information minister, confirmed to this publication on Monday that the suspect who shot at the military vehicle and killed one soldier and injured four people, and later killed a local woman, had been arrested.
“We appreciate the citizens of Lakes State and Rumbek East County in particular for helping the security personnel with information regarding the suspect, and this is the cooperation that we want,” he said. “I am also informing the citizens of Lakes State that law and order are in place, and the government is in place. Anybody who tampers with the law will be held accountable.”
The minister said the new governor will soon issue a policy statement on how the state should be managed.
“Nobody will go free when they do wrong,” he said. “We confirmed that the right suspect who shot and killed people is the one who was apprehended, and we will know soon if there were people behind him.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Laat Kon, a civil society activist in Lakes State, urged the government to arraign the suspect in court.
“The law must take its course; this will deter other people from doing the same thing,” he said. “My message to the community is that such people should not be protected from the law but should be reported to the police.”