By Hou Akot Hou
Police in Aweil East County, Northern Bahr Ghazal state, have detained two men for allegedly burning down the homes of their sister’s suitor.
According to Pinyding Makuach Kuol, the officer in charge at Wanyjok police station, the incident occurred after a man known only as “Simpleton” had eloped with the sister of the two aggrieved brothers.
Though Simpleton had accepted responsibility for the relationship, he had allegedly delayed finalizing the marriage by paying the required dowry.
The delay forced the irate brothers, along with some of their cousins, to reportedly react by burning down the thatched-roof huts, locally known as “tukuls”, belonging to the sister’s suitor.
“The law says that you could not be above anyone by attempting to be violent. The young man whom they have destroyed his property has stood firm by saying he would marry the girl and that he is a sweetheart the girl likes,” Makuach explained.
The two brothers have been apprehended and are now in police detention, awaiting prosecution in court upon completion of the investigation.
Makuach lamented that “now in a full hate, the man would go to court and talk with them about the reason of the destruction, as the law will take its course.”
The police official cautioned against contradicting cultural norms and traditions, which, he said, allow anyone to establish a family.
Attempts to reach the accused men’s family members for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.