Lakes state: Home of commissioner of headquarters targeted in attack

May 2, 2013 (RUMBEK) – The residential house of Lakes state’s commissioner of headquarters, James Aguer, was targeted in a surprise attack on Wednesday in Malakia.

The attack was reportedly carried out by relatives of a girl who was allegedly impregnated by Aguer’s family member.

The commissioner on Thursday filed a fresh police case against the attackers at the department of investigation in Rumbek Central county, but claims police ignored his complaint and failed to send forces to detain suspects in the case.

“There is no law in Rumbek really”, said Aguer in response to police inaction on the matter.

An eyewitness said Aguer had sustained a fractured right hand after being beaten by the attackers on Wednesday night.

The witness said two policemen employed by Aguer as bodyguards were overwhelmed by attackers who used traditional sticks to beat both the guards and their boss. The attackers also seized guns being carried by the guards.

It’s believed the attackers entered the commissioner’s compound at Malakia looking for a girl the commissioner’s was allegedly planning to elope with.

The girl was not present in the house at the time of the attack.

Aguer was appointed earlier this month after the state’s caretaker military governor, Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol, reshuffled his cabinet for the first time since he replaced Chol Tong Mayay in January.

In a separate incident on Monday, an unknown gunman shot a South Sudanese army (SPLA) soldier named Ater Keer Lai in an ambush at Monyieng-cok, leaving the soldier with a broken lower jaw.

Lai had been granted leave by the SPLA’s headquarters in Juba before the attack to visit his family in Warrap state.

A doctor at Rumbek hospital said Lai had been referred to Juba hospital for further treatment and his condition remained unstable.

Monyieng-cok is located in the eastern part of Rumbek Central county and is about 5km from Rumbek town.

(ST)