AWEIL – Authorities in Aweil West County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, have arrested a security guard employed by Zain Network Company after he allegedly shot and wounded a 19-year-old boy accused of stealing mobile phones on Wednesday.
According to local reports, the incident occurred near a Zain charging kiosk powered by the company’s generator. The teenager, identified only as Dut, was reportedly caught removing phones left to charge when the guard opened fire, hitting him in the foot.
Eyewitness Deng Bol, who was among the first at the scene, described the incident as “very unfortunate,” saying the victim was bleeding heavily and crying in pain.
“The young boy was in great agony when we arrived. The watchman has been detained, while the victim was rushed to Nyamlel Hospital for treatment,” Bol said.
Bol criticized the guard’s response, calling the shooting unjustified. “He could have fired into the air or near the ground to scare him instead of shooting directly. This kind of action is uncalled for,” he added.
The witness further warned that the incident might strain relations between residents of Aweil West and Aweil East, where the victim is said to come from.
“Some parents have expressed anger, saying this sends a wrong signal about relations between the two communities,” Bol noted.
Aweil West County Executive Director, Adim Bak Adim, confirmed the incident and said the victim is responding to medical treatment.
“The relatives of the victim in Aweil East will be informed, and the shooter is currently in police custody,” Adim said.
He added that the guard claimed several phones had previously gone missing from the charging kiosk, which might have prompted his reaction.
However, Adim cautioned the public against taking the law into their own hands. “Even if someone is caught stealing, harming them is unlawful. All such cases should be reported to the police,” he emphasized.
Incidents of theft and burglary have become increasingly common in the county, with many attributing the rise to economic hardship, high unemployment, and ongoing political instability that leave young people vulnerable to petty crimes.
