Motorcycle riders, commonly known as boda-boda riders in Yei town have demanded that the county and state governments provide them with security.
The motorists raised the concerns after one of their colleagues was shot dead at Hai Nyakama residential area last week and another one shot and injured over the weekend by unknown armed men.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Monday, Morris Denis called on the county commissioner to ensure that boda-boda riders are protected.
“We as boda-boda riders are not happy with what is happening because we are being targeted and being killed. We request the government to ensure that there is stable security in Yei River County because what we are doing is to help provide public transport and also to help ourselves,” Denis said.
David Lokolo, another boda-boda rider, said they are being targeted and are victims of crime in Yei town. David said although Yei is experiencing insecurity, the rate at which boda-boda riders die is so alarming.
“We struggle to sustain our families but unfortunately other people are hunting and killing us. As boda-boda riders, we are asking the government to provide us security because the rate at which boda-boda riders are being killed is too much,” Lokolo said.
Tabani David, also a boda-boda rider, called on the government to ensure their safety or they will suspend operations in the town.
“In Yei, we are the ones providing transport compared to Juba where drivers are also providing transport services in the city. If the killings continue we will suspend or resign from this work. We are also asking the church to pray for our safety because many of us have been killed by unknown armed men,” Tabani said.
Justoson Victor, a human rights activist and Executive Director for Yamora, a local civil society organization in Yei urges the government to beef up security and bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice.
“I would like to appeal to the government to strengthen the security and I would like to appeal to the county government to ensure investigations are done so that the perpetrators are brought to book so that justice can prevail," Victor said.
About two weeks ago, the commissioner of Yei River County, Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa, issued an order restricting night movement over security concerns in Yei town.
He called on the residents and the community to help the government with security-related information for a timely response.
This is the fifth time a boda-boda rider is reportedly killed by unknown gunmen in Yei River County since the beginning of the year.