Major-General Elia Costa, the police commissioner in Jonglei State - AMDISS/Juma - Oct. 4, 2022

Two traditional dancers were killed in crossfire when armed youth clashed at a party to celebrate the new year in Ayod County of Jonglei State on Wednesday, police said, adding that no arrest has been made.

Jonglei Police Commissioner Major General Elia Costa Faustino said the motive behind the attack on civilians is unclear and no suspects has been arrested so far.

The deceased have been identified as Chol Tut and Nyawaraga Kiiryal.

Two others were also left wounded according to the security official, but the culprits are still on the run.

“We received a report from Ayod County this morning, in a place called Wau Payam that, people were celebrating the new year with some traditional dancing. So, fighting erupted among the people there and they started shooting themselves,” he said.

“Two people died and two others got injured in the process. That’s what happened yesterday, 3^rd, January 2024.”

General Costa said the deadly fighting is due to the illegal possession of firearms by civilian populations across the country.

He reiterated calls for disarmament and urged the state civilians to shun violence and embrace peaceful co-existence.

“That’s the disadvantages and results of carrying guns by civilians who are not well-trained. That’s why we are asking for disarmament all over the country, so that, it is the organize forces that are authorized to carry and when to shoot their guns because there are well-trained.”

“My message to the people of Jonglei is that this is a new year, people should celebrate it peacefully but not killing themselves.”