Bor County Commissioner in Jonglei state Samuel Ateny Pech Ariik has accused an armed youth group of setting fire to his house in Bor, Jonglei State, saying the state government will investigate the incident and pursue those responsible.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday afternoon, August 29, when several houses at the commissioner’s residence were allegedly set ablaze.
Speaking to media, Ateny described the incident as a deliberate attack and alleged that members of the Red Belt were behind the burning.
“The individuals who entered my compound and burned my houses are members of the Red Belt. They are known by their names, and they are the ones who burned my houses,” Ateny said.
He said he was away from the residence when the incident occurred.
According to the commissioner, the alleged perpetrators will be investigated and arrested if found responsible.
“The state government will investigate this incident, and those who are behind it will be arrested,” he said.
Ateny did not say whether any suspects had been arrested or whether security authorities had formally identified those allegedly involved.
The accusation comes amid ongoing tensions between authorities in Bor and armed youth groups operating in the area. The Red Belt has previously been accused by government officials of involvement in violent incidents and insecurity in Bor County.
The group has also faced government pressure to surrender its weapons and abandon armed activities as authorities seek to improve security in the county.
The latest incident is likely to heighten concerns over security in Bor, particularly as authorities continue efforts to contain armed youth activity.
However, the commissioner’s accusation against the Red Belt has not been independently verified.
No statement from the group was immediately available regarding the allegations.
The state government’s investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire and determine who was responsible for the destruction of the commissioner’s property.