At least four suspects have been arrested for beating a man to death over eating the meat from a stolen goat in the Lotiyan area of Mogos Payam in Eastern Equatoria State’s Kapoeta East County on Wednesday.
The incident unfolded when residents stumbled upon three youths eating a stolen goat and mobbed them, leaving one dead while the two others escaped.
According to local authorities, the police from Kapoeta South County intervened due to their proximity to the crime scene and arrested four of the suspects who participated in the mob justice. Following the killing, tensions were reported between the goat owner and the friends and relatives of the deceased, but calm prevailed.
Angelo Longeleyiang, the paramount chief of Kapoeta South County, said a friend who stole the goat invited the deceased to eat meat.
“The incident happened yesterday (Wednesday) when a youth stole someone’s goat, killed it and called friends to eat the meat,” he explained. “They were caught while eating and beaten, and one of them died. Four people beat them, and all of them have been arrested and are currently in police custody awaiting trial next Monday.”
For his part, Oting Gaid, the Executive Director of Kapoeta East County, urged local leaders to educate people about the law.
“Someone stole a goat, and the owner caught him and beat him to death in Lotiyan Boma, Mogos Payam. These are the children of Yousif Lopai, the protocol officer of Governor Louis Lobong,” he explained. “The police came from Kapoeta to take the suspects because Kapoeta is nearer to the area than we are. He was beaten to death, and for us, when such incidents happen, we immediately revert to the law.”
“I appeal to chiefs to sensitize communities so that when a thief is caught, he or she is dealt with according to the law instead of beating or killing them,” Oting added.
Meanwhile, Wodkan Lazarus Savior, an activist, condemned the mob justice and cautioned citizens against taking the law into their hands.
“It is a very bad incident,” he stated. “We always urge the communities to follow the law, and once a suspect is apprehended, let the law take its course because we believe justice will always prevail.”