![South Sudan national MP for Kajo-Keji County Mary Puru Michael speaks during parliamentary sitting in Juba on Monday, 30th May 2022 [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/IMG_9703.jpg?ssl=1)
On 26 May, three young men were allegedly shot dead by SSPDF soldiers at Kiri village of Kajo-Keji county while three others were taken and detained by members of South Sudan army.
The gruesome killing of the teenagers occurred after the SSPDF soldiers found one of their colleagues dead in one of Kajo-Keji villages under unclear circumstances.
The officers who are believed to have been irked by death of their own colleague went on a shooting spree killing three young men and arresting villagers including relatives of the deceased civilians.
Mary Puru Michael, a lawmaker representing Kajo-Keji County at the national peace parliament, says she demands the release of the detained civilians arrested on the day soldiers killed three civilians in Kajo-Keji.
“After shooting, they decided to also take 3 more people including the sister of those killed; they were all taken to military barrack,” Mary said during parliamentary sitting on Monday.
“As parliamentary caucus of Kajo-Keji, we are calling for the immediate release of those 3 youth that were put in detention. Sister to the boys who were killed has her 3-months baby with her and up to now, they are in detention. So, this is what happened on 26 of May 2022,” she added.
She urged the parliament to form and dispatch a committee to investigate the killing of 3 young men.
“We also want parliament to form a committee that will go to the ground to see what has transpired there,” she urged.
Paulino Lukudu Obede, member of Decentralized Governance and State Affairs at the Council of State called for an immediate investigation of what he described as a “barbaric and heinous act” in Kajo-keji County.
“We call for immediate reconsideration and replacement of the army commander in Kajo-keji by any other civilian friendly commander,” Lukudu said in an urgent motion seen by Sudans Post.
Kenyi Erasto, Kajo-keji County Commissioner confirmed to Sudans Post on Sunday that 5 soldiers linked to the killing of 3 civilians last week in Kajo-Keji have been arrested as calm returns to the area.
