JUBA — The governor of South Sudan’s Jonglei State, Denay Jok Chagor, has ordered the arrest of suspects involved in the killing of seven Murle traders residing in Bor town.
The killing occurred shortly after two young men traveling from Bor to Anyidi Payam were killed by suspected gunmen from Pibor.
As a revenge, armed civilians in Bor went on spree killing seven Murle traders working in Bor town, the capital of the restive Jonglei state.
In a statement, Chagor condemned the killing and ordered the arrest of the suspects in the killing which he said was inspired by revenge.
“On Friday, two young men traveling on a motorbike to Anyidi Payam were ambushed on their way by suspected criminals from Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) and as a result, Anyidi Payam’s youths took laws into their hands and started targeting members of GPAA residing in Bor town killing seven,” Chagor said in the statement seen by Sudans Post on Saturday.
“For this inhuman, brutal, and cowardly act, the government of Jonglei State is dismayed and shocked with such callous and unfortunate acts by youth. As the government of Jonglei State, we strongly condemn this act in my capacity as governor and head of security committee in the state,” Gagor added.
Gagor instructed security forces to investigate those behind this cruel incident and bring them to book as soon as possible so that justice can prevail.
“I want to inform GPAA that you are not weeping alone but we feel the pain most as citizens and government of Jonglei State. Therefore, I am sending my heartfelt condolences to people of Greater Pibor Administrative Area and particularly to the family members who lost their beloved ones,” he said.
On his part, Jay Adingora Alual, Information Minister in GPAA said called on Jonglei State governor to bring the perpetrators to book.
“We strongly condemned what happened in Bor where 7 people who were selling their cattle in Bor market were murdered in cold blood by the youth of Bor. We condemned this horrific assassination and we are requesting the government of Jonglei State to bring perpetrators to book in order for justice to prevail,” Adingora said in a statement on Saturday.
In 2007, unspecified numbers of Murle traders were killed at Bor Hospital.
Adingora called on the people of Jonglei to stop the “culture of killing” of innocent Murle traders.