By Ijoo Bosco Modi
At least five people have been arrested in the Nadapal border town of Kapoeta East County in Eastern Equatoria State over the shooting of SSPDF soldiers.
The event reportedly happened last week when the soldiers were gathering timber to pitch their tents when they encountered armed civilians in the bush.
The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) launched an investigation into the suspects in order to trace the main cause of the shooting incident that left two soldiers wounded.
Col. William Garang, the SSPDF army commander in Kapoeta East County, said the suspects are awaiting trial at the SSPDF barracks in Nadapal.
According to Col. Garang, the suspects claimed they thought the soldiers were cattle raiders from neighboring Kenya.
He said further investigation would help to ascertain the real motive behind the incident against the innocent soldiers.
He added that, while there is one suspect who is still at large, the five will be arraigned in court.
“This person, we will look for him; we told his friends yesterday that we need the gun; he must look for the gun; the first suspect, the law will decide when you injure someone accidentally,” said Garang.
“If they have a friend in the military, we cannot say they intended to attack them, but the law will decide. The reason why they went to the bush and when they see someone in the bush, they shoot,” he added.
He said the two injured SSPDF soldiers are currently being treated in Narus town, Kapoeta East County, and their condition is stable.