An 18-year-old student has been shot dead by an unidentified gunman in Hai Dileb, Luparate Sub-Boma, about 4km north of Yei town, Central Equatoria State.
The victim, Martin Wani, a Senior Three student at Excell International School, was attacked at about 7pm on Tuesday while returning home from town.
Local authorities said Martin encountered an armed man who had allegedly hidden near a water kiosk. The suspect reportedly robbed him of his mobile phone before shooting him in the back.
Martin was taken to Yei Civil Hospital for treatment but later died from severe blood loss.
His brother, Clement Ita Alex, confirmed the incident to Radio Tamazuj and said Martin sustained a gunshot wound to the back.
“It is really a sad thing that has happened to my brother. My brother is a student and he also has a small business selling phone lines to help himself. At around 6pm, he was returning home when he was attacked and shot. We do not know who shot him. We took him to the hospital, but he died at around 6am.”
The headman of Hai Dileb, Timayo Lole, condemned the killing, describing it as shocking and disturbing for residents.
He said Martin was an innocent young man who, to his knowledge, had no disputes or conflicts with anyone in the community.
“We heard about the incident at around 7:20pm. A schoolboy had gone to the market and, on his way home, he was shot by an unknown gunman in the Hai Dileb, Luparate area. When he was shot, he did not die at the scene. He ran to a neighbour’s home, fell down and told people that he had been attacked on his way home.”
“He said the attacker had taken his phone and told him to leave. After he left, he was shot from behind, and the bullet damaged his lungs. Such things are not acceptable because he was an innocent child who had no grudges with anyone.”
John Bakata Sindani, the head chief of Luparate Boma, said the killing had raised concerns about growing insecurity in the area, including reports of armed individuals and roadside robberies.
He called for increased police patrols in Luparate to strengthen security and help apprehend those responsible.
“My message to the government is that we have police here. Let them be redeployed so that they can conduct patrols. Such incidents should not be happening, and we are not happy.”
“Let us develop a culture of resolving issues peacefully rather than taking innocent lives every day. Now that we are heading towards elections, with such things happening, people cannot live in peace.”
Meanwhile, Mario Kenyi, a CID officer at Luparate Police Outpost, confirmed that the case had been referred to the county police post for further action.
He said investigations were under way to identify and arrest the suspected gunman.
“The report has reached us. According to the boy’s father, when the boy was returning home, the gunman hid near the water kiosk, stopped him and asked for his telephone and money. When the boy turned his back to go home, the gunman shot him from behind.”
“We are still investigating the person behind the shooting, and he will be brought to book. If anything happens at night, people should not be afraid. They should report it to us so that we can intervene immediately.”
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