At least five people including four women were killed during the Easter celebrations last weekend in Eastern Equatoria State.
In Lafon County, an ambush along the Tabwor -Ibele road left three women and a man dead as they were returning from a funeral on Saturday evening.
“On Saturday, four people namely Akileo Obwor, a 35-year-old male, his wife Ilur, 32, Martha Ihonok, 35, and Marcelina Habwere, 28, were killed while they were returning from Ibele,” Martin Ojok, the executive director in the Lopit Corridor in Lafon County told Radio Tamazuj, “There is now tension between the people of Tabwor and Ibele and I need the government to intervene in calming the tension. These people fight for no reason. In 2017 they fought over gardens and they have started again now.”
In Budi County, a woman was killed and another injured at the junction between Camp 15 and Ngarich Boma on the road to Chukudum town.
An SPLM-IO lawmaker at the Transitional National Legislative Assembly representing Budi County, Oreste Lopara, said the women were ambushed by unknown gunmen on Sunday evening.
“Some women were leaving Camp 15 for the junction but before they reached a place called Jebel Anyanya 1, they were ambushed and one of them was killed and the other injured,” he said. “I have asked the people there to follow the footmarks. I think there is a need for extra attention and I do not know why they are targeting women who are not part of the problem. The women never raid.”
Other areas in the state however had peaceful Easter celebrations.
Susan Siliman, a Torit resident said, “We celebrated well with no problem and went to church and I did not hear anything bad.”
Omunu Samuel Thomas, a resident of Ikotos County, urged Christians to imitate the life of Jesus Christ.
“Easter was very good we celebrated very well in peace and there was no problem and everyone was fine. We thank God,” he said. “My message is that people should live in peace like Jesus Christ’s peaceful resurrection.”
Meanwhile, Michael Oboi Gilberto who works with Kinetye Express, a transport company commuting along the Torit-Juba highway, said the Easter celebrations went well but were marred by night crime by gangs.
“The problem is that gangs clashed until one was cut on the head and is now receiving treatment in the hospital,” he said. “My message to the gangs is to lay your pangas down, handle your pen and hoes so that you develop your place. Study hard and cultivate so that you handle your people well later. The issue of pangas and stealing will not help.”
For his part, Major General John Luny, the acting police commissioner in Eastern Equatoria State, said the Easter season passed well.
“Because we deployed our police personnel in every corner of the state, there were no reports concerning crimes being committed unlike before Easter,” he said. “In Nimule, Pogee, Tseretenya, Chuckudum, Narus, New Site, Nanyangachor, and Lotimor there is no information that can cause any fear and everybody is peaceful in Eastern Equatoria State.”