Calm has returned to the Jebel Luri area in the north-western outskirts of the capital Juba following Wednesday’s clashes between cattle keepers and security forces, police have said.
On Wednesday morning panic gripped the Jebel Luri area forcing several residents to flee as security forces deployed to quell clashes among groups of local herders in the area were allegedly fired at by the latter, leading to another clash between the two groups.
A police officer, only identified as second lieutenant Justin, was killed and a herdsman injured during the confrontation.
Major General Daniel Justin, the South Sudan National Police spokesperson, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that they had restored calm and order to the area after the clashes.
“Those cattle keepers had a misunderstanding and fought amongst themselves leading to looting and panic in the area,” Justin said. “So, after a tip-off from the residents of the area, we went there to calm the situation. But as our forces arrived, the youth started opening fire on them leading to clashes in which we lost a 2nd lieutenant, and from the other side one person was injured.”
“But as police, the area has been under our control since yesterday. The cattle keepers escaped but in our custody, we have their cows and the injured herdsman,” Justin added.
The police mouthpiece pointed out that an investigation has been launched into the incident, “now, investigations are ongoing into the incident and as soon as the investigation finishes, those responsible for the killing will be brought to book.”
Justin called for calm and restraint as the law takes its course.
James Yakoub Musa, the head chief of the now-defunct Luri County and in charge of Luri B court, said the fighting has been going on for four days.
“They have a field there where they were doing sports competitions. So the team that won started celebrating and the ones who lost picked up their guns and started shooting. There were chairs of the church at the function. So after the chaos started people started picking the chairs and running with them. This was the cause,” Chief James Yakoub said.
He said that the warring youth are not local from his area but they are heavily armed and so they intimidate residents.
“No one among the residents has been injured but the cattle herders have up to six injured,” Chief Yokoub said. “The fighting has affected not only Kworjik but greater Luri areas like Lombu, Kemiru, and the surrounding areas. The Mundari amongst themselves, the Kobura and Nyangbara clans, started exchanging gunfire and having running battles up to the residential areas.”
The chief said it was now the responsibility of the government to sort out the problem, “but we have not yet seen their intervention.”
“First of all these people are carrying arms not meant for civilians. They have PKM machine guns and Rocket Propelled Grenades. Where did they get this heavy weaponry? This is now the time for the government to arrest and ask them where they got these weapons and ammunition. Till this morning there was still shooting and this has affected the people in the villages.” Yakoub said. “There is no need for fighting and conflict. The government should step in and stop these problems so that people live in peace.”