Calm was slowly returning to Wonduruba Area of Juba County in Central Equatoria State following the gruesome murder of 10 youths, authorities said.
Local administration official Stephen Michael Towongo told Radio Tamazuj that they held a rally on Sunday to encourage the displaced civilians to return home and they were involving the chiefs in the campaigns.
“The situation is getting back to normal; we are patrolling and telling the civilians not to run up and down. The shops have opened but they close early due to fear but we called a rally and briefed them along with the soldiers,” Towongo said.
“We explained to the civilians what happened and our future plans regarding their protection and other uncertainties that may come up, and how they should respond. They should start going to their farms because that is their livelihood,” he explained.
He disclosed that the death toll from the gruesome October 9 incident remained at 10 and 4 injured.
Towongo further disclosed that there had been no reported clashes between the National Salvation Front and the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) in Wonduruba town, but noted that there had been some operations against the rebel forces in a place called Gumbo.
The administrator said they were still investigating the perpetrators of the killing of the 10 civilians.
“We are waiting for some of the survivors and eye witnesses because they are still in hiding. We have collected information from so many people since the incident took place,” he said.
He called on the civilians to remain clam, noting that the authorities were working to protect them.
“I advise the people to remain calm and in their houses because what has happened was a serious lesson and we have taken two priorities for now from my office, civilian protection and peaceful coexistence, even with the holdout groups,” he said.
Towongo revealed that they had also reached an agreement with the soldiers to avoid wearing military uniforms and carrying their firearms when moving around the market and the civilian areas.