The Executive Chief of Wuji area James Ela Charles was killed by suspected cattle keepers from Terekeka County in Wuji Boma of Kupera Payam in Lainya County, Central Equatoria State on Thursday, officials confirmed.
Lainya County commissioner, Emmanuel Khamis Richard, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the deceased was killed when armed nomads attacked and raided his cattle.
Khamis said the situation remained tense as the armed pastoralists continued to attack, loot, and displace the people of Kupera Payam.
“I want to strongly condemn the continuous violence and killing of innocent people by the armed Mundari cattle keepers and on Thursday at around 3 pm, the armed Mundari cattle keepers raided civilian areas in Wuji Boma and as a result, they killed the executive chief of Wuji Boma James Ela Charles,” he added.
For his part, Terekeka County Commissioner James Lino confirmed the continuous tension between cattle keepers and farmers for the past several days in Lainya County.
He called on the pastoralists from Terekeka County to leave the area to allow farmers in Lainya to embark on agriculture during the rainy season.
“Time for cultivation has come because the people in Lainya are farmers and there is no need for cattle herders to stay near farmlands with all the cattle camps. They should return home and we want to assure the people that this is the last incident and I have come to make sure all the cattle herders return home,” he said.
About seven people were reportedly killed during cattle raids and attacks in Lainya County for the past two weeks.