Warrap woman, four children die in arson attack

KUAJOK – A woman and her four children died on Saturday in a fire in Gogrial West County of South Sudan’s Warrap State, according to local police.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:04 PM in Majok boma, near Paweng village, according to Joseph Mathony Nhial, director of police in Gogrial West County. The 32-year-old woman, identified as Ajam Mayen, was seven months pregnant.

“The woman called her children into the grass-thatched tukul (hut), locked it firmly, and set it on fire immediately,” Nhial told Sudans Post today. “All four children, including herself, burned beyond recognition inside the tukul.”

The children were identified as Wek Agany Agany, 12; Kevin Agany, 10; Akur Agany, 9; and Agany Agany Agany, whose age was not available.

Nhial stated that residents speculate the woman’s actions were triggered by a family dispute with her husband.

Following a heated argument, the husband reportedly left for the house of another wife. The woman then allegedly committed the act in his absence.

“Residents speculate that what infuriated the woman to burn herself and the tukul with her children is attributable to a family dispute that arose between her and the husband,” Nhial said.

The police official attributed the incident to increasing economic hardship, which he said often leads to family disputes. He urged residents to seek community-based solutions through chiefs or courts rather than resorting to violence.

“We are urging people to find peaceful resolutions to their problems,” Nhial said.