The chairperson of the traders’ union in Unity State’s Leer County was released from detention on Sunday after being locked up for 24 hours.
Brigadier Samuel Machul, the director of police in Leer County, told Radio Tamazuj that Stephen Gai Yar was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of giving his gun to someone to attack people who were celebrating the removal of the commissioner.
“He was released on Sunday. He was arrested on Saturday for giving his gun to relatives of the former commissioner, Stephen Taker Riak, to attack the people who are celebrating the latter’s removal from office,” he explained. “We have transferred him to the county administration after completing our investigations.”
“We found out he was involved in the conflict because he is the one who gave the gun to the relatives of the former commissioner to attack the people who are celebrating the appointment of a new commissioner for Leer County,” Machul added.
The police chief said the situation is now calm after the dispute between the supporters of the new and of former commissioner was contained. He said the person to whom the gun was handed fled, and they were forced to arrest the owner of the gun.
Meanwhile, Stephen Gai Yar confirmed that he was released after being falsely accused of supporting the relatives of former commissioner, Stephen Taker Riak.
“I was arrested on Saturday after a group of people accused me of giving a gun to attack the people who were celebrating the removal of Stephen Taker as commissioner,” he said. “The gun was not picked from my shop, but from another shop within Leer Market. I was accused because there are people against me. I cannot give someone a gun to attack the people.”
“I am the traders’ union chairperson and all these are my people, because I am their leader,” Gai added.