An unspecified number of young people have been arrested following last weekend’s violent attack in Rumbek North County, Lakes State.
Police said at least three people were killed in the revenge-related attack over the weekend at Nyangkot village.
Authorities believe the attack and subsequent killings were triggered by the murder of 5 people from Nielniel section by Gaak section of Pakam in June this year.
The Nielniel armed youth launched the attack arguing that the state government allegedly failed to punish 5 people who reportedly killed their kinsmen over a girl they eloped.
The State government said it arrested the 5 individuals who killed people in Nielniel over the elopement case and are currently in Rumbek main prison awaiting trial.
William Koji , the State Minister of Information said a number of suspected attackers from the Nyangkot killings have been arrested. He did not disclose the number of those apprehended.
“The suspected persons are being detained and the security (officers) are still hunting for more criminals who participated in that revenge killing to face justice,” Mr. Koji said.
He told Mingkaman 100 FM that the suspects were traced through community leaders. He urged the youth to refrain from returning the state to the dark days of revenge killings.
“I am appealing to Lakes state citizens to respect the bylaws signed by both the community and the government to address insecurity in the state.”
Last year, Lakes state adopted 55 bylaws that include killing any murderer without taking them to court as a means of ending communal violence.
This is the first such attack in nearly a year in the state.