By Yang Ater Yang
Police in Lakes State are investigating the shooting of a police officer in Mayath Payam, Cueibet County, on Monday night, reportedly over a dispute involving a woman.
Police spokesperson Major Elijah Mabor Makuac the incident in question involved a sergeant from the wildlife service who shot and killed a sergeant major from the police service in Magubil village.
According to Mabor, the deceased officer had been romantically involved with the daughter of the suspect.
On the night of the incident, the suspect, reportedly the girl’s father, arrived at the victim’s home around 10:00 PM. After waking the victim, he shot him dead and then fled the scene. Investigations are ongoing to locate the suspect for questioning.
Abraham Matur Makoi, a civil society activist in Lakes State, expressed his concerns regarding the incident.
He stated, “this case should not have resulted in a loss of life. Organized forces should not take the law into their own hands. Such matters should be addressed by community leaders and reported to local chiefs for a proper investigation.”
Makoi condemned the actions of the wildlife officer, emphasizing that trained officers must understand and adhere to the law, regardless of personal grievances.
“There are customary laws that address issues related to elopement or inappropriate relationships. What happened in Cueibet County is unacceptable and does not reflect the responsible behavior expected from law enforcement officials.”
He called on the state government to implement comprehensive training programs to ensure that all officers in Lakes State respect constitutional laws and do not resort to vigilantism.