Chief Mataio Kenyi Jale, The head chief of Lobonok Payam of Juba County - Courtesy

The Chief of Lobonok Payam shot by a soldier had pleaded with Vice President Wani Igga to help redeploy and replace soldiers stationed in the area with police forces before the shooting incident.

Chief Matayo Kenyi Jale was shot with three bullets in his chest by an SSPDF soldier identified only as Dut.

This was on Wednesday at around 7:00 p.m. in the Pager area of Luwala Boma.

Speaking on his hospital bed, the chief has again pleaded with Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga to help relocate soldiers away from the area.

Chief Matayo says he had previously requested the government to relocate the soldiers citing they have stayed in the area for too long

According to him, the soldiers had threatened him before the incident.

“I have previously told Zholkebiir [the big man, Wani Igga] that the soldiers cannot stay for four years, usually supposed to be six months or one year, not two years,” Chief Matayo narrated his ordeal to Eye Radio.

“They have to be changed and bring another for deployment because staying like this is not good. I told the Vice President,” he said.

“He [Vice President, Wani Igga] is not happy with what happened, so the day before yesterday [Thursday, August 31] he [Vice President, Wani Igga] came here,” he said.

“I told him this is it you thought it was a minor issue, but it is now something big he said they are going to solve it.”

Chief Matayo Kenyi Jale said the suspect was arrested shortly after the incident by fellow soldiers.

“I told him if I did something to you wrong, you can kill me but if I have not hurt you, you should not involve yourself in such things,” Chief Matayo said.

“He saw the soldiers coming he rushed to the road and the soldiers threatened him and arrested him, they came and found me lying,” he said.

“The commander come? I said comrade Nhial no one else that shot me except Dut, it is Dut who shot me.”