By Paride Wani Moses
Authorities in Ikwoto County, Eastern Equatoria State, have reported that a man allegedly shot and killed his father following a family dispute in Bolie Village, Jebel Lotada Boma, Ikotos Payam, on Friday evening.
Speaking to Radio Emmanuel in a telephone interview, Ikwoto County Executive Director Tito Abas described the incident as a domestic disagreement that escalated into deadly violence.
According to Abas, the father and son reportedly quarreled before the situation turned fatal. Preliminary information indicates that the suspect later opened fire, killing his father.
“Yesterday, in a place called Bolie, the son shot his father to death. The son happened to quarrel with the father. So, the father said, ‘You wait, I am coming.’ Later in the evening, the son was prepared, and the incident occurred. It was a family issue that escalated. The challenge is that many civilians still possess small firearms, making such situations difficult to control.”
Abas said the incident highlights the continuing security challenges posed by the widespread presence of firearms in civilian hands, particularly in remote communities where law enforcement has limited capacity to respond quickly.
He noted that authorities are awaiting a detailed report from local chiefs and community leaders to establish the full circumstances surrounding the killing.
The county official also stressed the difficulties of tracking suspects in areas with rugged terrain, where armed individuals can easily evade arrest by fleeing into the bush or mountainous areas.
“When information reaches the authorities, they will act. However, it is difficult to trace perpetrators in remote areas. The presence of small firearms in the hands of civilians makes it hard to control criminal activities. People can easily escape to the mountains and other inaccessible areas. That is why communities continue to call for a broader, regional disarmament process so that all neighboring areas are treated equally.”
Abas further called for a coordinated regional disarmament exercise, arguing that isolated disarmament efforts are often resisted by communities concerned about security threats from neighboring armed groups.
Authorities say investigations into the incident are ongoing, while local leaders continue efforts to gather information, apprehend the suspect, and restore calm within the affected community.
The killing has renewed concerns over the proliferation of small arms in parts of Eastern Equatoria State, where local officials say access to firearms continues to contribute to violent crime and communal insecurity.