Six children taken hostage were among 32 killed, with 20 others wounded, when unidentified gunmen stormed a cathedral compound in Jonglei State, South Sudan on 27 July.
The children were taken captive when the assailants attacked Makol Chuei village, in the Anglican Diocese of Athooch, from two directions. The cathedral’s dean, Daniel Garang Ayuen, and at least 14 women and children who sought refuge in the church, were murdered in the brutal onslaught.
“After killing people in the church, the gunmen went to the homestead village and killed people there,” said Bishop Moses Anur Ayom. “The gunmen burned down the whole village in Makol Chuei.”
The six abducted children and others who went missing during the assaults were later found dead in the bush. The gunmen also vandalised the cathedral, destroying musical instruments.
Bishop Moses said, “As a church leader, I forgive the gunmen. The Bible says we have to forgive those who do wrong to us.”
