A 20-year-old secondary school student survived a house fire in Yei Town, Central Equatoria State, after armed men allegedly tied him to his bed and set the building ablaze, police and relatives said.
The incident happened over the weekend in Kondeko Sub-Boma, where the attackers allegedly broke into the student’s home, tied him with wire and poured petrol over the house before setting it on fire.
Joseph Batali, the warrant officer in charge of police in Kondeko, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that police received a report of the incident at about 2 a.m.
Neighbours and family members responded after noticing the fire, broke into the house and rescued the student, identified as Brown Gala, Batali said.
He said Gala was found tied to his bed with wire and had sustained serious injuries.
Gala’s brother, Alfred Asan, said he raised the alarm after seeing the house engulfed in flames.
“When I woke up, I saw through the window that the fire had engulfed the whole house. I raised the alarm, and neighbours came to help,” Asan said. “After breaking down the door, we found my brother tied to the bed with wire.”
Gala, a Senior Two student at Emmanuel Christian Academy Secondary School, is receiving treatment at Yei Civil Hospital.
Police said the attackers were armed with a gun and pangas. Batali also alleged that the assailants took $300 from Gala and that he appeared to have been drugged with tramadol before the fire was started.
According to Asan, Gala had previously survived an alleged attempt on his life following a dispute involving his sister’s boyfriend, whom he said was linked to gang-related activities in the area.
Asan said Gala told relatives that he suspected the same group was behind the latest attack based on voices he heard during the incident.
Michael Juma Cosmas, also known as Juma Somula, the sub-chief of Kondeko, condemned the attack and called for those responsible to be identified and arrested.
“We want to know who that soldier is who can be hired using a government gun to burn someone like this,” Cosmas said.
He said authorities need to do more to tackle gang-related violence and protect civilians.
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