Eastern Equatoria State governor Gen. Louis Lobong Lojore has expressed concern over the growing insecurity in his state.
According to reports about five people have been killed and thousands of cattle raided in just under a week in the state.
Governor Lobong condemned the growing insecurity characterized by cattle rustling and targeted killings of people of certain ethnicities along highways in the state.
“It is with utmost displeasure that I have learned of the high rise in cases of cattle raiding in Eastern Equatoria State, particularly the recent targeting of Dinka Bor cattle in the greater Magwi region. I condemn in the strongest terms possible these targeted cattle rustling and targeted killing of some ethnic communities along the highway in the State,” Governor Lobong said.
He added, “We know that cattle raiding has been practiced in Eastern Equatoria State since time immemorial but these particular ones have taken an unusual direction, henceforth should stop immediately.”
He, however, called on the cattle keepers from Jonglei State grazing their cows in Eastern Equatoria State to go back to their area since floodwaters have subsided to avoid further tension within the state.
“I call upon the cattle keepers from Jonglei State to go back to their area since the floodwaters have subsided to avoid further tension in the region. I call on Eastern Equatorians to remain calm as the government investigates the killing along Torit-Juba road, particularly the attack on the vehicle of cattle traders who were taking their animals to the market in Juba," Lobong said. "Although most of these incidents have been taking place inside Central Equatoria it is our people going from Torit here. These actions will not be tolerated by the government.”
Governor Lobong also asked the public to remain calm while the government investigates the killings along the Torit-Juba Road.
Dominic Otwari Theodore, a Member of Parliament in the yet-to-be reconstituted Eastern Equatoria State Legislative Assembly, said revenge will not solve problems and stressed the need to embrace dialogue.
“You know dialogue is the only key. These actions and so on whether revenge or what cannot help. Instead, it destroys relationships,” said Otwari.
For his part, Charles Okullu, a civil society activist, welcomed the response and condemnation by the governor but says the state should have the monopoly of violence.
“We as a civil society appreciate the response and the condemnation from the state governor. First of all, one of the characteristics of the state is that it has to have a monopoly of violence. The monopoly of violence means if the state can put down any violence that arises,” Okullu said.
On Monday last week, unknown armed men stormed the house of Pastor Peter Lokai in the Ifwanyak residential area in Torit town and shot him before fleeing. The late Rev. Lokai was shot several times in the chest and later succumbed to his gunshot injuries after being taken to the hospital.
A few days ago, over 3,000 head of cattle were raided in the Acwa River area, Pageri Payam of Magwi County, and four people are still reported missing from that incident.
The cattle raid was followed by the killing of four people along the Torit-Juba road after the killers asked the travelers to disclose their tribal identities while others were allowed to go.