By Bosco Bush
Investigation Committee formed to probe October 9, brutal murder of at least 20 civilians including an Anglican priest in Wonduruba Administrative Payam and Jebel Iraq has officially commenced.
An ad-hoc committee headed by Angelo Daya, Advisor for Peace and Security of Central Equatoria State [CES] government, tasked to scrutinize and bring the perpetrators of the incident to law, started its work last Friday.
Spokesperson of the committee, Mawa A. Moses, confirmed their successful arrival at Wonduruba and subsequent rollout of duties on the matter as directed by the governor.
“We have started our work. We travelled well and we were received by the Payam Coordinator and the chiefs,” said Mawa A. Moses.
Wonduruba Administrative Payam’s Coordinator, Towongo Stephen Michael, applauded arrival of the team, saying, “it’s a positive move and direction in ensuring justice prevails”.
“The work of the committee will help restore confidence and hope among the people,” said Stephen.
CES-Governor, Augustino Jadalla formed the committee to investigate killings and ensure that those behind the wanton are held accountable.
On November 12, the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Central Equatoria Internal Province, Anglican Communion declared a 30-day mourning, fasting and prayers for the departed souls of Wonduruba killings.
This comes after a pastoral visit of Provincial Bishops to Wonduruba Administrative Area, to comfort the families who lost their loved ones.
The clerics said, primary findings carried by their pastoral visit shows, Rev. Martin Muda Abinadab, an Anglican priest in the area as one of the victims of the heinous incident.
Amidst the killings, the cleric said women were also sexually abused.
Additionally, the church leaders stated that, their pastoral visit and findings indicates the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces [SSPDF], Ground Force, stationed at Mongiling, in Wonduruba, are squarely responsible for these killings and sexual abuse and therefore hold them fully accountable.
The bishops further requested perpetrators of the gruesome killings of innocent civilians to report to the Church authorities within the month of declaration of the spiritual discipline.