Police arrest three suspects over killing of young man in Yei

Police in Yei River County have arrested three suspects in connection with the killing of a young man in an alleged dispute involving a teenage gang.

Yei River County Police Inspector Yoasa Lujang Kamba said the suspects were accused of assaulting the victim, identified as Joseph Hakim, who later died at a hospital in October.

Kamba said the suspects were arrested at 6:30 p.m. after taking the victim to the hospital following the alleged assault.

He said a local chief alerted police after identifying the three suspects as the people who had allegedly assaulted the victim.

“The chief was near them and immediately told us that the three boys who were rushing with the victim to the hospital were the ones who assaulted him. We immediately contacted the person on duty at the hospital and rushed there. When the door was opened, we arrested the three boys,” he said.

Kamba said investigations were ongoing as police worked to identify other alleged members of the youth group, which reportedly calls itself “niggas.”

He added that police had earlier arrested two other individuals suspected of providing information about additional members of the group.

Investigators are continuing efforts to identify and arrest others suspected of involvement in the incident.

The police chief also expressed concern about youth involvement in violent groups and the alleged use of Tramadol, which he said could contribute to aggressive behaviour among some young people.

“We don’t want what is happening in Juba to happen here. Let the parents talk to their children so that they refrain from such acts. If a boy does not listen to his parents, let them come and report to us so that we can intervene before the situation gets worse,” he stated.

Kamba urged parents, community leaders and local authorities to work together to prevent youth violence and report young people involved in such activities before the situation escalates.