A policeman deployed to ensure order during the arrival of Unity State Governor Justice Riek Bim Top in Bentiu from Juba on Friday was shot dead by a soldier belonging to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
Unity State Information Minister Engineer Gatwich Bipal Both to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that the incident happened in Bentiu Town shortly after a reception for the governor, who had earlier landed at the airstrip in Rubkona County.
“A dispute happened when the deceased policeman told the army man to stop moving around because the governor was about to arrive,” he explained. “However, the soldier who was moving without a gun git angry and went and picked up his gun and came back to shoot the policeman, who died on the spot.”
“The soldier was arrested by security personnel, and he is being detained at the military barracks,” Minister Bipal added.
He said the situation was controlled, and calm was restored soon after.
“The soldier will face the law,” Bipal stated.
Meanwhile, Dr. Riak Koang, the program coordinator of Street Children Care Initiative (SCCI), who is also a member of civil society, confirmed the incident and condemned it.
“I heard a soldier shot and killed a policeman who was on duty,” he said. “We, the members of the civil society, are appealing to the governor and take criminals to the courts instead of keeping them in detention.”