Authorities investigate death of an SSPDF soldier in Torit County
By Theophilous Ochang
Authorities are investigating the death of an SSPDF soldier in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State.
The officer is said to have been targeted while making charcoals in his farm by the unknown criminals over the weekend.
The soldier, identified as Bosco Taban, was part of a military dispatch nicknamed ‘New Kenya’, at the Hiyala Payam of Torit County. The incident happened between Hiyala and Haforieri villages.
Confirming the incident in an interview with The City Review on Monday, Christopher Andrew, the Torit County Commissioner said the soldier was shot while in his farm, and investigations are underway to establish the killers and their motive.
The Commissioner said the deceased colleague raised an alarm after he missed a military parade. A search was immediately established, whereupon his lifeless body was found in the garden.
“It was his colleague that noticed he was absent during a military parade on Sunday. Normally, when a soldier misses such occasion or duty posts, they send teams to look for them. This is what was done and the search team found him in his garden dead,” Christopher told this publication
The commissioner condemned the heinous killing, promising to bring the perpetrators to book.
“Soldiers are there to protect you. If we eventually find out that it was a member of the community that is responsible, it will be a great shame. These forces are here to serve us. We have to protect them as well,” he said.
Hiyala Payam is one of the hotspot area in Torit county of Eastern Equatoria state where revenge killing, cattle raiding, highways robberies, among other acts have been prevalent. Authorities have, however, been working to stem such activities and to secure the area.
The state government and other partners have conducted various peace dialogues in an effort to restore peace and calm in the area.
Efforts to reach the SSPDF for comments were unsuccessful by the time of going to press.
