The acting commissioner of Tonj North County, Agany Look, said a murder suspect, Akooch Malueth Akooch, 28, attacked the police station in Warrap Town on Wednesday in an attempt to free his father, who is in custody forcefully.
According to Look, Malueth has been wanted since May for the murder of a soldier called Marach Peth Marach in Warrap State. His father was arrested after Malueth fled, having killed the soldier.
Malueth allegedly opened fire at police officers stationed at the station, but no casualties were recorded.
“The guy who attacked Warrap Town Police Station killed a soldier. Malueth killed a person in May and ran away to the bushes. The authorities then arrested his father,” he explained. “However, Malueth attacked the police station to take out his father by force, and yet he (Malueth) is the most wanted criminal.”
“Nobody was killed or injured when the attacker exchanged bullets with policemen, but there was panic, and we took Malueth’s father to Kuajok Main Prison to avoid further attacks,” Acting Commissioner Look added.
He said the police are hunting for Malueth and urged the public to report to authorities if they see him or know his whereabouts. He added that the security situation in the county is relatively stable.
“Before my appointment, attacks were coming from neighboring Tonj East, and it ceased immediately after I took office,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Paramount Chief Deng Ayuel confirmed the incident and blamed the state government for not convening peace dialogues among the conflicting communities of Tonj North County.
“What happened was that somebody called Akooch Malueth terrorized the police because he wanted to talk to his father, who was arrested because his son murdered a person,” he said. “So, the police exchanged gunfire with him (Malueth), and fortunately, no person was hurt. Malueth ran away, and the worst part is that he was not apprehended.”
Chief Ayuel accused the government of doing less to reconcile the conflicting communities of Loupaher and Lou Arik.
“Last week, when the commissioner was sacked, there were two attacks by armed youth from Loupaher in Tonj North County who were having a dispute with the Lou Arik Community,” he said. “The attacks displaced many people, and even the injured people have not received medication. The elderly and children did not return to their houses, so there is no food, no proper shelter, and no government official visiting them, let alone settling their disputes, because the newly appointed acting commissioner is now in Tonj South County together with the governor.”