The director general of Western Equatoria State’s education ministry was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his home in Yambio on Saturday evening, police said, in an attack that also wounded an elderly family member.
The killing of Peter Michael Mbia, the most senior official in the state’s Ministry of General Education and Instruction, comes days after the state’s education minister was removed from her post by gubernatorial decree.
State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Phillip Madut Tong told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that three armed men stormed Mbia’s residence around 7 p.m. on Saturday, firing shots before fleeing without taking any belongings.
“This case is very serious. If it’s politically or tribally motivated, we must solve our issues peacefully. We should stop using guns against each other,” Madut said.
He said the situation in other counties, including Tambura, remained calm.
A neighbor, speaking on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, said the community was in shock and feared further violence, given the unclear motive behind the attack.
Francis Francisco, Yambio County’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) coordinator, confirmed the incident but declined to speculate on the killing.
“Yes, he was working with the state Ministry of Education. But since this is a criminal case, only the police and the commissioner can comment further,” Francisco said.
The incident has raised alarm among government officials and residents in Yambio. No arrests have been made so far.