More than 20 people killed in wave of revenge killings in Rumbek
September 16, 2014 (RUMBEK) – At least 25 people are believed to have been killed in separate criminal attacks in and around the counties of Lakes state capital Rumbek.
The state government announced it will imposed a seven-day curfew following the murder of three soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) in Rumbek East county’s Pacong payam (district) on Saturday.
Colonel Yol Muordit Dhel was mistakenly gunned down along with his two bodyguards. Four suspects have since been arrested in connection to the attack, with the assailants are widely believed to be relatives of Lakes state’s military caretaker governor, Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, the acting minister of information and communication, Dhieu Wal Takping, said the security service would impose a curfew from 8pm to 7am inside Rumbek Central county to quell ongoing insecurity in the area.
“The Security Committee has sat on Monday and then they came out with resolutions that there will be curfew that is started from yesterday the 14th and it will go for seven days,” said Takping.
“The reason for this [is] because of what you have heard about the killing of [the] son [of the] late paramount chief. Some people came to town trying to make a revenge [attack] … so based on that government decided that there should be curfew for this time,” he added.
Activists have accused the state government of indirectly insecurity in the region, accusing the state governor of allowing his family members to engage in killings on the Rumbek highway.
Murders of high-profile targets have been on the rise across the state, while businessmen, students and traditional leaders are also subject to harassment from state security agents allegedly acting under the governor’s instructions.
The Lakes state government has become increasingly unpopular, with residents refusing to share information with authorities on crime-related matters.
Last Thursday, Matur Apareer Chut Dhuol, the son of late paramount chief Apareer Chut Dhuol, was killed in Cueibet county’s Mayath payam by pastoralist youth from the Gok-Dinka section.
The killing of the paramount chief’s son sparked revenge attacks in Pacong, with his relatives stopping cars in search of Gok-Dinka.
Wal said security agents had been deployed to hunt down those responsible, describing the attacks as a “barbaric act”.
“The government has sent forces to Pacong to apprehend these culprits,” he said.
“It is very bad that you just kill anybody who is coming along the road,” he added.
Lakes state is locked in a cycle of revenge killings, cattle raiding and highway attacks.
However, president Salva Kiir has so far ignored public demands for Dhuol’s removal.
(ST)