Police and local authorities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state have launched an investigation after a man shot dead his elder brother, an army officer, in a dispute over cattle, officials said on Monday.
The incident occurred on May 1 in Madhol Payam of Aweil East County. The suspect, identified as Agok Kuek, is accused of killing his brother, Colonel Nickson Madich Kuek of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), at their home village following a disagreement over cattle.
A police source in Aweil East told Radio Tamazuj that the suspect surrendered to authorities shortly after the shooting and is now in custody.
“The suspect handed himself over to police in Madhol after the incident. A legal case has been opened and thorough investigations are ongoing before he is taken to court,” the source said.
Aweil East County Executive Director Apath Deng Apath said the dispute stemmed from a family disagreement between the two brothers after the deceased had recently returned from Juba and held discussions over the matter.
“The problem started as a family issue over cattle. The elder brother had come from Juba and engaged in talks with his younger brother, but the discussions failed and the situation escalated,” he said.
He added that although the suspect killed his own brother, the case would be handled under the law.
“He will be taken to court after investigations and legal procedures are concluded because the matter has become a public case,” Deng said.
Local activist Christopher Anei Deng called on the government to strengthen civic education and promote peaceful conflict resolution, urging authorities to use radio programmes to raise awareness on legal rights and crime prevention.
“I call upon the government to unite communities and ensure disputes are handled through dialogue to avoid such incidents,” he said.
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