By Hou Akot Hou
Police in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have confirmed the deployment of heavily armed forces to Kunyuk in Yargot village, Aweil East County, following a land dispute that left two people dead and seven others arrested.
State police spokesperson Madut Ngong Aleu said the deployment was ordered to prevent further reprisal attacks after the killing of a local chief, Garang Khon Deng, and an intellectual who had previously worked in Juba.
“We have deployed enough armed forces following the visit of Governor Charles to the scene on Sunday. Now the forces are on the ground and no more fear or attack has been reported yet,” Ngong said.
He noted that tensions between the Paliec and Pariath clans had raised fears of renewed violence, prompting the security response. Ngong cautioned residents against incitement and rumor-mongering, warning that anyone found fueling the conflict could face arrest.
“Our people need to know that what happened has occurred and nothing can be done about it. Therefore, we want to allow the law to take its course,” he said.
Police said the dispute escalated during a relatives’ meeting convened by the late chief Garang, spiraling into violence that claimed lives unexpectedly. Ngong stressed that the matter was not planned but erupted from clan disagreements.
Residents in Aweil East and across Northern Bahr el Ghazal have appealed for calm, urging that land disputes be resolved through courts rather than violence.
Many emphasized that such cases should be addressed by chiefs and statutory courts to avoid further bloodshed.