Warrap state government is set to pay blood compensation for
the families of six out seven victims who suffocated to death in a shipping
container at a military barrack where they were locked up as suspects of murder
and cattle raiding.
The deceased included four natives of Tonj North County and
three from Gogrial East County. However, the finding released on Wednesday found
six innocent and one guilty of cattle theft.
Warrap Minister of Information, William Wol Mayom said the government
will compensate the families of the six innocent deceased with 51 cows for each
family as stated in the green book.
“For six people who died because of suffocation. Their blood
compensation will be paid by the government, 51 cows for each according to
green book and victims’ families were consulted and they agreed on blood
compensation. So, the total number of cattle for six people will be 360,” Wol said.
He said the payment of blood compensation to the victims’
families started on May 29, 2024.
Wol added that the officers in charge of the military
barracks at Brigade 4 and Brigade 2 of Gogrial East and Kuajok who locked up
the deceased, will remain in custody until they are presented in a military
court.
The paramount chief, Sultan Arou Kon Auru, who is related to
the four brothers who died of suffocation at the military barrack in Kuajok,
welcomed the blood compensation.
“We met over the matter, and we agreed for blood compensation because six people cannot just be suffocated to death like that. It is a great loss to the family but no way. So, we will receive cattle,” Sultan Arou consented.
The seven suspects of murder and cattle raiding were detained by the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) and locked in a shipping container where the suffocated to death early this month.