By Bida Elly David
A high ranking officer of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and a renowned gospel singer was reported dead after being apprehended and detained at Amiya Military barracks of Yei River County over the weekend.
Late Yuma Sebastian was a senior ranking officer of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and a gospel singer who sung many motivational songs that transformed the lives of many citizens from paganism into Christianity.
The late formerly was deployed by the military to Kapoeta County of Eastern Equatoria State for his military duty before his dead.
Speaking to No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper yesterday, a closest relative to late Yuma Sebastian whose name remained anonymous reiterated that their brother died at Amiya Military barracks after being apprehended and detained for number of days.
According to the relative, late Sebastian left Juba for Yei to attend a family program urgently.
He added that the late’s death was not a medical complication but due to brutal torture and beatings that he sustained throughout his body which affected his internal organs.
“Our brother and a singer was in Kapoeta for his military mission as deployed by the government. He continued to work in Kapoeta since his deployment and came to Juba to prepare for a family visit to Yei for a family program that majorly demanded his presence. Three days after his arrest, we were shocked with the news that our brother died at the military detention,” the relative to the late narrated.
A statement issued by the Commissioner of Yei River County, Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa confirmed Lt. Col. Sebastian’s death and reiterated that Yuma died inside a military facility after he was apprehended by the SSPDF to respond to questions upon leaving assignment without permission.
He said that the late left Military Camp 15 of Kapoeta without departure order and permission from the body concerned with departure issues of whatever cases.
“Late Lt. Col. Yuma Sebastian died upon his detention to answer questions of his coming to Yei from Camp 15 without permission and without a departure order. His detention occurred on 11th August 2022, and he was found dead on Saturday 13th August at 5 A.M. in the detention cell,” the Commissioner Cyrus lamented.
Aggrey Cyrus further said more details concerning his demise haven’t yet been disclosed and urged the late’s family as well as the citizens of Yei River County to remain calm until final result is discovered.
“I urge the people of Yei and the family of the late to be calm as they mourn their loved one and ensure that the cause of justice shall be pursued accordingly. I trust that the SSPDF shall do their best to address such incidences not to happen again. More details of his death are yet to be provided by the brigade commander as investigations are going on,” he noted.