The latest incident occurred on Sunday at around 2:00 p.m., when armed men reportedly stormed the trader’s shop and stole cash and mobile phones at gunpoint.
Speaking to this publication by phone on Thursday, businessman Kuol Malou said the attackers struck while most people in the market were resting during the afternoon hours.
“What happened on Sunday at around 2:00 p.m. is that armed robbers attacked me in my shop. They pointed pistols at my head and took three smartphones and 1.5 million South Sudanese Pounds,” Malou said.
According to Malou, the robbery is part of a troubling pattern of attacks targeting his business. He said criminals had previously stolen about 800,000 South Sudanese Pounds from him in a separate incident.
“This is another round of looting that has happened to me. I am now left incapacitated and have nothing at hand to continue with my business,” he lamented.
Malou appealed to well-wishers and community leaders to support him in rebuilding his small business, which he said he established through proceeds from farming.
“There is nothing I can do now to revive my small-scale business. It was through farming that I started this work, and now armed robbers are targeting me in Nyalath, on the outskirts of Aweil Town. My business is deteriorating,” he said.
The incident has sparked concern among local residents and traders, who say insecurity remains a major challenge in the area.
Some traders are calling for increased police patrols and stronger law enforcement presence in market centres to deter criminal activity.
One local youth, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, criticized what he described as inadequate security measures.
“This is a total neglect by law enforcement agencies. The officers here are weak because they lack the resources and motivation needed to do their work effectively,” he claimed.
Northern Bahr el Ghazal authorities have in recent years conducted operations against criminal gangs operating in and around Aweil Town, including in areas such as Maper Akot Aru, Apada, Malou Awer and the Naivasha neighbourhood.
While such crackdowns have at times reduced crime, residents say cases of theft and robbery continue to resurface, raising fears that insecurity could once again become widespread if not addressed.
The latest robbery has renewed calls for authorities to strengthen security patrols and protect traders whose businesses provide livelihoods for many families across the state.
