Security forces have arrested four people suspected to have committed crimes in Tambura, Western Equatoria last week.
There were several reports of killings, abductions, and torturing of civilians by armed groups in Tambura over the last month.
Speaking to Journalists on Monday, the Governor of Western Equatoria State, Alfred Futuyo Karaba, confirmed that the security forces apprehended four suspects and that they are being investigated.
“Those people who were organized to go and kill people in Tambura, we have arrested four of them. The report will come from the communities through the committee then we will see who is sponsoring the conflict in Tambura. If you are in Juba or Khartoum, we will take you to court to answer why you send people to kill civilians,” he said.
According to the governor, preliminary investigations of the four people arrested proved that they belong to the forces under Gen. James Naando, whose group defected from SPLA-IO more than a year ago.
He said any suspect arrested must be produced in a court of law and called on the citizens to avoid tribal hatred and embrace peace.
“The issue of Tambura should stop immediately because if I keep arresting people you should not blame me. If you are Balanda, Zande, Bongo, Dinka, or whatever the tribe, stop fighting. Those who are sponsoring those conflicts will be looked for, whether Balanda or Zande, we have to arrest them. Even me, I should also be arrested if I commit a crime,” Futuyo said. “I want to tell the communities of Tambura and Western Equatoria State at large that the conflict in Tambura was organized. I hope it will end and the communities will get back to their normal life without problems.”
Efforts to reach the accused SPLA-IO renegade Gen. James Naando were futile.