Two people were killed and another injured by gunmen while cultivating their gardens in Nyerere village in Budi County in Eastern Equatoria State on Monday, officials said.
Two weeks ago, a humanitarian vehicle was shot at and robbed along the Camp 15-Chukudum road.
Philip Odong, the police inspector in Budi County, said the assailants struck on Monday morning and that investigation had been instituted into the attack. He urged the state government to deploy more security forces in the area to help curb insecurity along roads.
“Two people were shot and one is injured and the identity or whereabouts of the criminals who killed them is not known. They were killed in a place called Nyerere at 9:00 am,” he explained. “We sent forces but there is no clear information yet.”
Security forces should be deployed in that place called Nyerere to help improve the security along roads,” Odong added.
Martha Nakang Simon, the leader of the women in Budi County, confirmed the incident and said the injured person is receiving treatment in Chuckudum Hospital.
“The road to Chukudum is now unsafe. Two people were killed and one injured along the road and there has not been any movement of vehicles for the last three days,” she said. “People now living in fear because it is hard to get the right information. The organized forces went there but failed to track the criminals because it is the rainy season.”
Meanwhile, Michael Kokol, the area’s Member of Parliament in the state assembly, condemned the attack and called on the citizens to refrain from such acts and engage in productive activities.
“These are thieves who are following cattle and after failing, and out of hunger, they ambush cars and rob people. When the local people followed their footmarks, the criminals scattered somewhere in the bushes,” he said. “It is not a good act to kill and rob someone of the cassava they have cultivated. The county authorities will follow and find out exactly what had happened.”