Governor Lobong appoints acting commissioner for Magwi

Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong

Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong has appointed David Eriga as acting commissioner of Magwi County following the detention of Commissioner David Otto.

Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong has appointed David Eriga Enodius as acting commissioner of Magwi County following the detention of Commissioner David Otto in Juba.

Magwi County Commissioner David Otto Remson has been in police custody in Juba since last week. He was arrested for alleged involvement in the killing of two business people. In August last year, two businessmen seeking to purchase bamboo in Agoro payam of Magwi County were killed, while two others managed to escape.

Until he was appointed acting commissioner, Eriga served as Secretary General for Eastern Equatoria state and Nimule town clerk.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, David Eriga confirmed his appointment as acting commissioner of Magwi County and said: “Yes, I can confirm because we had agreed and I was informed earlier before the decree. It is an appreciation and also the trust that the governor has bestowed on me and he took my consent.”

“My message to my people is that going there as acting commissioner is like a caretaker waiting for the commissioner issue to finish, and then I hand over the office to him. As a town clerk,  I am going there to fill the vacant post and my message to the people is that we need peace. People have to cooperate because, without cooperation, I would not be able to carry out the plans,” he added.

Meanwhile, civil society activist Mr Emmanuel Oryema welcomed the appointment of the acting commissioner and urged the new official to end “unnecessary arrests of civilians by security operatives in the county.”

“It is not a bad idea because we have realized there are rampant arrests of the community members by the security apparatus in the county. These arrests sometimes are created by not having the head of the security commissioner who is the commissioner,” he said.

“The appointment of the current acting commissioner should be with full powers because when there is an appointment without the full power, the people of Magwi will still be subjected to unnecessary arrests by the security apparatus, and this will not be accepted,” he added.

The local activist claimed that three youths have been arrested and are currently in detention together with the commissioner.

Government officials in Torit could not immediately be reached for comment on the alleged arrests.

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