(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – A 20-year-old Senior Two student of Emmanuel Christian Academy Secondary School (ECASS) is receiving medical treatment after surviving a brutal gang attack in Yei Town that left residents increasingly concerned about worsening insecurity.
The student, Simon Gala, a resident of Kondeko Boma, commonly known as the TTC area, was allegedly attacked in the early hours of Saturday morning.
According to his brother, Bangutu John, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. when a group of unidentified attackers reportedly stormed Gala’s home, tied his hands and legs with iron wires, assaulted him and poured petrol around the house before setting it on fire.
Bangutu said neighbours who heard Gala’s cries for help rushed to the scene and rescued him as flames engulfed the iron-roofed house.
The Sub-Chief of Kondeko Sub-Boma, Michael Juma Cosmas, condemned the attack and called on authorities to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
Juma stated that this was reportedly the second attempt on Gala’s life. He alleged that individuals linked to an earlier attack involving Gala had previously been arrested and remain in police custody in the Kondeko area.
A health worker at Yei Civil Hospital, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said Gala is responding well to treatment but requires continued medical care before discharge.
Following the incident, Dominic Living Wawa, a human rights defender and leader of the Kikiji National Orphanage Centre, visited Gala at Yei Civil Hospital on Sunday.
Dominic described the attack to Access Radio as a deliberate attempt on the student’s life, he expressed shock over the growing disregard for human life in Yei town.
“I visited Simon Gala at the hospital and I was told that this young man was tied to his bed, his legs and mouth were bound and if that was not enough, he was beaten on the head. The attackers then poured petrol around his house and set it on fire. I saw the pain the young man was going through and I was deeply disturbed. People no longer seem to respect human life,” he said.
Wawa called for greater community cooperation in reporting violence and urged the government to launch an immediate investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We need investigations and the perpetrators must be brought before the law. The government should take steps to stop gang violence in Yei because this is not the first such incident. Last month, a police officer was burnt in his house. The authorities must address the root causes of these occurrences,” he added.
He further appealed to parents to discourage their children from joining criminal gangs and urged local chiefs to work closely with police to prevent violence. Wawa also called for dialogue among young people to address factors driving youth involvement in gang activities and crime.
In addition, he appealed to humanitarian organisations and well-wishers to support Gala with essential humanitarian assistance during his recovery.
Access Radio was unable to obtain a comment from police authorities by the time of publication.
Calls Grow for Deployment of County Commissioner
Meanwhile, community leaders say Yei’s escalating insecurity has been worsened by a leadership vacuum following the absence of a county commissioner.
Johnson Poru Hillary, a resident of Yei Town, said the lack of county leadership has contributed to a rise in security incidents.
He referenced the recent killing of a Senior Three student from Excel International School in Hai Delib, approximately four kilometres north of Yei Town.
“There are many insecurity incidents happening now in Yei. We have a leadership vacuum and there is a need for intervention. I appeal to the caretaker governor to deploy the commissioner to help address these emerging challenges,” he said.
Similarly, Sultan Kenyi Elisha John, an area headman in Hai Peace, called for the swift deployment of the county commissioner.
“Following the leadership vacuum, Yei recorded many security challenges, including road ambushes and the killing of a secondary school student. We want the commissioner deployed quickly because Yei remains one of the hotspot areas,” he said.
The Head of the Yei Civil Society Forum, Modi Arkangelo, also urged state authorities to act without delay.
“The commissioner is the chairperson of security at the county level. We call on the state government to urgently send the commissioner to Yei so that administration and security coordination can resume effectively,” Arkangelo said.
Residents continue to express concern over increasing violence in Yei and are urging authorities to strengthen security measures and restore confidence among communities.
Discover more from Access Radio®
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
