By Hou Akot Hou
Police in Gogrial East County of South Sudan’s Warrap State are detaining a man accused of shooting a suspect on Monday night at Ajibo Market in Gogrial East County after sensing that the two men (suspects) were doing a deliberate break-in at their shops.
Deputy Director for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the county, Mr. Thiik Agoth Giiir, revealed that the incident occurred on Monday night when the two suspects attempted to break in. The trader, who is now being detained, allegedly shot at the men, leaving one injured in the leg and one narrowly escaping death and remaining at large.
Agoth said the suspect (trader) identified as Jok Akec Kom allegedly shot at two thieves, resulting in one being taken ill and admitted to the hospital and being detained at the Ajibo police station.
He said the incident occurred late at night as people were asleep.
“What happened is that two thieves reportedly organised themselves and attempted to steal things in the market; as people were sleeping, they came into a shop with a hammer and other assortments for doing the work, including the master key,” he said.
“While attempting to break in, the trader cocked his arm and shot at the two men, leaving one seriously injured in the leg, and the other man escaped unharmed,” he stated.
Giir urges the local youth to avoid focusing on ill activities such as thievery instead of doing work that can benefit them in some way.
“People need to embark on jobs that can support them instead of going about dirty chores such as stealing. This makes one pay the price, which you won’t bear the brunt of,” he cautioned.
This latest incident highlights the consequences of joblessness getting on the rise, which the youth attribute to a lack of industrial areas that are designated for people to exercise labour for them to work.
Some youth point to corrupt practices in the institutions, which hinder the able-bodied ones from exercising their intellect, leaving some youth redundant and turning to thievery and cattle-raiding businesses, which they see as a lucrative alternative.