7 wounded in Bor as man opens fire on son-in-law over dowry

BOR, JULY 17, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – At least seven people were wounded on Thursday after a man opened fire against his son-in-law at Marol market, the main market in Jonglei State’s capital Bor, according to the police.

Major-General Elia Costa, Jonglei State police commissioner, told Sudans Post in an interview on Friday that the shooting took place on Thursday after an angry man opened fire on his son-in-law after the later defaulted on dowry.

General Costa said seven people have been wounded as a result with five critical cases being flown to Juba.

“A certain man came and started shooting people, and wounding seven of them and they have been taken to the hospital. Five of them have been taken to Juba, this are those in critical situation,” he said.

“The reason of shooting is [that] one of those victims is his (the suspect) in-law, he married his daughter, but because he didn’t pay the dowry of the daughter, he became angry and when he came to the market and see them sitting in the shop, he started shooting them,” he added.

The state police chief said the suspect has been apprehended by the police and investigations are going on.

He noted that the victims are relatives from the same area and that the shooting was intentional.

“So, we arrested him, and he is now in police custody for investigation. They are from the same area and all of them are relatives. The shooting is not random, and he meant it,” General Costa said.

He appealed to the public to use peaceful means to resolve disputes, saying the situation could have spiral out of hand without an immediate intervention from the police authorities.

“My message is that marriage is relationship or partnership between the two families, so if there is anything, people can sit and solve it peacefully without resorting to violence because that day there was a high tension that the other community wanted to come and attack the family of that suspect,” he said.

“Had we not been serious as police [violence] could happen more dangerously than the first one, but we managed it and they could down,” he added.

For his part, Bol Deng Bol, Chairperson of Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN), condemned the act of violence and called on the police authorities to quickly conclude the investigation for justice to be served for the victims.

“I am adding my voice to condemn the targeted shootings at Marol market, violence is never justifiable. It shouldn’t be an option,” he said.

“Even as I appreciate the effective response by the police to this incident, I would like to urge them to do a thorough and quick investigation to end the matter,” he added.