By Philip Buda Ladu
Central Equatoria State Governor, on Saturday, warned land grabbers in Molobur village East of Jebel Lado Payam, Juba County, to cease the unlawful practice.
According to governor’s press unit, Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani issued the warning while touring Molobur area, which had been a scene of land-grabbing.
During the tour, the governor witnessed massive atrocities perpetuated by land grabbers.
“They imposed fears on locals of the area through use of military force, threats, displacement, looting, shooting, and illegal demarcation,” the statement, stressed.
The governor condemned the practice and ordered an immediate end to the illegal demarcation of the area, pending further government directives.
“Nobody should take the law into his or her hands,” Governor Jadalla said while addressing the affected locals during his working visit.
He added that “those who carried out the heinous act are individual land grabbers but not government.”
Jadalla assured that the situation would be brought under control soon.
Executive chief of Jebel Lado Payam, Charles Lako explained that there has been unrest in the area resulting from land malpractice over the past few days.
“There have been threats by the land grabbers, beatings, shootings, and chaos all over the area. As you can see, these are all pegs fixed by the grabbers.” Lako highlighted the gravity of the matter.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Angelo, an employee of Jebel Lado Payam, explained the method employed by the land grabbers, involving military forces.
“They are brought in military vehicles and dressed in military attire, but when they start demarcating the land, they change their military uniforms and dress in civilian clothes,” Angelo narrated.
Over the past few days, land grabbers invaded Molobur area and started demarcating their own plots. They reportedly threatened the locals of the area and the Payam authority, whom they had sidelined in the process of land demarcation.
In March this year, Central Equatoria State authorities demolished structures erected in illegally demarcated land in Jebel Ladu Payam of Juba County, in a fight against grabbing.
The demolition exercise came after, over 40 suspected land grabbers were arrested in the same area by Juba County authorities, 35 were charged, and others were fined by the high court in Gudele.