By: Ijoo Bosco
The Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore has cautioned nomadic cattle herders from Jonglei State over instigating insecurity along Torit – Juba Highway.
Lobong made the remark on Sunday while addressing hundreds of faithful at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church in Torit.
The governor said that attack on innocent travelers is posing huge fear among the citizens.
He further noted the security incident which was reported on 24th of this month, where 17 people were killed and five sustained serious injuries as a result of the road ambushes.
“They have killed five of our people from Eastern Equatoria State, plus those ones that escape with wounds upon them” Lobong stated.
Governor Lobong described the insecurity along the road as a threat to peace and relationship between the people of the two sisterly States, saying the continued insecurity is causing fear amongst the population of the State.
However, Mr. Lobong said that government is doing its best to control the situation and bring perpetrators to face the law.
He further called on the citizens to calm down and have free movement, saying forces have already been deployed on the ground to contain the situation.
“We have learned that some of our community members cutting charcoal were also missing just within those areas, around nineteen people are missing just within this road,” the Govenor said.
However, the local authorities in Lokiliri Payam of Central Equatoria State are called on State government to deploy organized forces along the major roads in order to protect them from being attack by the assailants.
Hundreds of Lokiliri residents have deserted their homes and have taken refuge at the nearby villages among them Lirya center of Juba County.
The residents fled almost empty handed as most of their essential properties have been looted including hundreds of goats and sheep in their villages.
One of the displaced persons, Mary Kiden called on the state government to act swiftly and come to their rescue with provision of humanitarian assistance.
She said most of their houses and properties have been torched down.
Recently, Torit – Juba highway have registered a number of highway attacks that had left approximately nineteen people death.