By Hou Akot Hou
A 33-year-old man is being detained in Aweil West County in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state over the shooting of 28-year-old Akec Khon Angok.
The suspect reportedly lured Angok to give him a ride from Gok-Machar to Chier-Kou Payam in Aweil West County and shot him in an attempt to steal the motorbike two weeks ago, according to local officials.
The Director of Information in Aweil West County, Chol Duang, told this publication on Friday that the incident shocked local residents.
“What happened two weeks ago is that 33-year-old Wek Wek Wek asked motorbike rider Akec Khon Angok to take him from Gok-Machar in Aweil North County to Chier-Kou in Aweil West County, offering him 50,000 SSP. Upon reaching the middle of the forest, he cocked his pistol and shot Akec in the left side of his face,” said Duang.
Duang added that the suspect fled with the motorbike, leaving the rider unconscious and bleeding profusely after narrowly escaping death.
“He took the bike and was caught at a place called Abul by Criminal Investigation personnel. The victim, Akec, is now receiving treatment at the Gok-Machar health facility,” he added.
Chol stated that the suspect is being held at Nyamlel police station, where Criminal Investigation Division (CID) officers are interrogating him.
The victim will also be brought to the police station to provide his account before the case is forwarded to the attorney.
The Director attributed such incidents to a lack of job opportunities, noting that this is the second similar incident in Aweil West and North County.
Earlier this year, a Sudanese man also reportedly lured a motorist to take him to Kiir-Adem towards Sudan, shot him, and took the bike to Darfur, a case that is currently being followed by peace committees.
He urged motorbike riders to avoid accepting passengers whose backgrounds they do not know for distant trips, regardless of the high fare they offer.