The Episcopal Diocese of Nyamlel in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State says one of its churches was burnt to ashes in Aweil North County by arsonists on 3rd January 2023.

The diocese also blamed the arsonists for trying to interfere with the activities of St. Mark Parish days before the incident.

“The church burning incident happened on the 3rd of January after believers gathered for annual prayers. The government and our investigation teams are still on the way to filing their findings,” said ECSS Bishop Peter Garang Akuei of Nyamlel Diocese told Radio Tamazuj on Monday morning

“According to some reliable information which was not written, there were people who blocked the believers from holding prayers but the church members urged them to allow them to go ahead with the service and then discuss on 2nd January,” he added. “They (suspects) didn’t come back on the second and by the third day, the church burnt to ashes and they are now accused, but they have denied.”

For his part, Aweil North County Commissioner Victorino Ken Akoon said his office is investigating the matter.

“This issue has not appeared in the security report. I just heard that there was a small-thatched church that was burnt down by robbers, so I sent some people to investigate if that was insecurity. A report that came back to me was that there were accused people, some children were playing and in the middle of the night, they burnt the church unknowingly,” said Ken.

Source: Radio Tamazuj