Civilians storm barracks, kill a soldier in E. Equatoria state
November 16, 2015 (JUBA) – Angry civilians attacked a military barracks in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state over the weekend and killed a soldier before making off with several ammunitions, area authorities and local residents said on Monday.
Local residents told Sudan Tribune that Engineer Lopus Athanasio was shot dead about three kilometers from the county headquarters Wednesday.
Traces of the killer’s footsteps reportedly led residents to an army barracks forcing angry youth armed with machetes and rifles to retaliate. While at the army unit, the group demanded that soldiers hand over the engineer’s killers.
The army allegedly responded by firing at the youth and this sparked off the violence.
“When we talked to them, they denied and ordered us out of the barracks and as we were getting out they started shooting us with machine guns and threw a hand grenade [at us]. We then decided to shoot back to them,” a local resident, who preferred anonymity, told Sudan Tribune over phone.
Sounds of gunfire reportedly caused panic as scared residents scampered for safety.
Authorities in Eastern Equatoria state, however, said they had dispatched a team of investigators to determine the cause of the violence.
“Between the time of following the footprints which went to the barracks but did not enter inside, and before they investigated why the footprints were traced to the barracks, confusion erupted among the civilians and the army of which 32 huts of the army were burnt and one army [man] killed,” said local government minister, Lokai Iko.
According to the commissioner for Ikwotos county, Peter Lokeng, those who attacked the military detach stole properties, including six AK-47 rifles.
“We received some guns which have been looted by civilians about six and also the properties of soldiers were reportedly burnt,” he said, urging residents to remain calm.
The army spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer said he was unaware of the violent incident.
(ST)