By Hou Akot Hou
A local football match organized by young players in Malualbaai Payam, Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, turned deadly on Friday evening after a dispute left a 30-year-old man dead.
The Police Inspector in Malualbaai Payam, Lt. Colonel Akoon Akoon, said the incident occurred after a disagreement among players, which later escalated into violence.
He explained that the victim was waylaid and stabbed in the chest while returning home, leading to his death.
Lt. Colonel Akoon described the incident as unfortunate, warning that tensions were rising as some community members were seeking revenge.
“I have phoned the authorities at a higher level to deploy forces, and we have apprehended one suspect while other boys have fled.
The man we arrested is called Bol Arol, although he says he was conniving with other colleagues to kill the deceased,” Akoon said.
According to Akoon, the dispute stemmed from disagreements over how the tournament was organized.
However, he acknowledged that some reports allege the young men were involved in a love triangle over a girl.
“Some people are giving contradictory statements about the young man’s death, but I am saying the situation has to be calmed down, and the law must take its course,” he stated.
Akoon urged the relatives of the deceased and his friends to remain calm, cautioning that revenge killings would only worsen the situation.
“What happens in other states is something we do not want to emulate. The forces we have deployed to the family of the deceased are there to protect people from engaging in retaliatory actions,” he said.
Community members allege that during the Christmas season, some individuals consume excessive alcohol, which fuels violent behavior.
Others pointed to the absence of strong youth associations that could help unite young people and de-escalate conflicts.
The situation underscores prevailing conditions that allow local disputes to escalate into deadly violence.
With widespread possession of knives and firearms, it remains uncertain for young people to thrive in an environment where weapons are owned by almost every family.