By Yang Ater Yang
Authorities in Lakes State have arrested a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldier accused of killing a superior officer in the Kuel-Kuac area of Wulu County’s Bargel Payam.
Lt. Col. Elijah Mabor Makuac, the state police spokesperson, said the incident involved two SSPDF personnel, a sergeant and a captain, following a confrontation between the soldiers.
According to Makuac, the two soldiers had been drinking alcohol before the incident. He said that after becoming intoxicated, the sergeant allegedly brought out his rifle and shot the captain several times, killing him.
“The report revealed that the victim and the culprit were drinking alcohol. After they became drunk, the sergeant immediately decided to shoot the captain. There may have been a quarrel, but there is no proper explanation yet about what happened,” Makuac said.
The alleged perpetrator was subsequently arrested and is being held at the Malou Jec military barracks, according to the police spokesperson.
“This is one of the tragic incidents that occurred on that day, and this incident occurred yesterday,” Makuac said.
“Both of them are SSPDF personnel. The culprit is a sergeant, while the victim was a captain by rank within the SSPDF,” he added.
Makuac said the soldiers were deployed in the area as part of the security presence in the county.
He explained that the SSPDF operates a farm in the Kuel-Kuac area, where the two personnel had been deployed and were reportedly working in the gardens when the incident occurred.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation.