The five brothers were identified as Athian Athian Athian, 38; Nhial Athian Athian, 36; Lual Athian Athain, 34; Madut Athian Athian, 32; and Nhial Athinan Athian, 28.
Recently, the unnamed in-law accused their sister of unfaithfulness and having a child through adultery in Abong Ayok Payam, according to an ex-chief.
Subsequently, the man chased away the four-year-old child and stopped providing for the family.
Arou Kon says the move enragged the Athians, one of whom stabbed the in-law to death on Sunday.
In response, the state government executed Athian, had his four brothers transferred to the state capital, Kuajok. The extrajudicial killing was based on the Green Book.
“The governor ordered the killing of that one person and the arrest of the four others for investigation,” Arou told Mayardit FM on Wednesday.
However, the four brothers were later pronounced dead by suffocation in a military detention container.
Arou stated, “They were handed over to the SSPF to take them to Kuacjok for arrest, but lastly, they were reported to have died of suffocation.”
The four brothers suffocated along with three other suspects from Gogrial East, bringing the suffocation deaths to seven, the state minister of information confirmed.
The former traditional leader appealed to the state government to initiate a preliminary investigation into the deaths of the “innocent” four brothers.
“I will continue asking the government to explain why the innocent brothers of the accused were also killed,” Arou added.
The state cabinet unanimously endorsed the Conflict Resolution and Sustainable Development Bill 2024, also known as the Green Book, months ago.
The Act, which now awaits approval by the State Transitional Legislative Assembly, addresses the root causes of violence in Warrap State, including land disputes, unilateral naming of other people’s places, kidnapping of girls, forced marriage and adultery, and competition for limited resources such as water and pastures for cattle.
The Green Book mandates that those found guilty of cattle raiding or revenge killings face the death penalty by firing squad.