Mother, four siblings killed in arson attack buried in one grave |Courtesy Photo

A man on Sunday set a family on fire killing four children and their mother in Amee Boma of Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria state, according to a criminal investigator.

Onen George Jalduong who is the County Crime Officer told Eye Radio that the man he did not disclose his name, torch a grass thatch house during Sunday’s wee hours while the children and their mother were asleep.

“In regard to the incident, a man set fire to the house, the suspect is currently in custody. The victims include five individuals – four children and their mother,” he said.

The motives behind the arson attack are unknown, but Jalduong says the unnamed suspect believed to be in his thirties who attempted to flee has been arrested following a prompt police response and is under investigation.

“When the incident occurred, police officers and security personnel promptly responded to the scene, managing to apprehend the suspect who had attempted to flee.

He added that “despite the distance, law enforcement successfully transported the individual to custody without encountering any problems.”

Head Chief of Iwire Payam in Magwi County confirmed the incident to Eye Radio on Monday morning.

“He came from Amara to Amee Junction, then at night he went to the home while they (the woman and the children) were sleeping and set fire.

“When a woman in the neighbor saw the fire, and whole house engulfed by fire, she screamed for help, then a boy nearby tried to rescue those people but it’s too late.

“Yesterday morning, the police and civil defense force went there, and they confirmed that four children plus the woman died. The name of the deceased mother was called Mary and the person who committed the crimes is called Okeny,” he narrated the incident to Eye Radio.