The governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore, on Wednesday concluded a three-day visit to the restive Ikotos County, where he banned movement with firearms.

The area has been grappling with insecurity as a result of unchecked cattle raids and wanton cyclic revenge killings that have claimed the lives of humanitarian workers and teachers, among others, since April.

Governor Lobong appealed to humanitarians and development partners to return to the area saying the government had put in place security measures to protect them.

“We are very sorry for what happened, particularly for the humanitarian workers who got killed. They are innocent and have been providing services to the community here,” he said. “I appeal to all the development partners to come and continue delivering services to Ikotos.  We have put security measures for them.”

He said the government is going to ensure that civilians do not carry firearms within Ikotos town.

“We are going to put security measures for all the organized forces in Ikotos to ensure that there is safety and that civilians do not move with guns in the town,” he said. “We discovered that there are people moving with guns in town and driving raided cattle through the town. The commissioner here will ensure that this should not happen again.”

A woman leader in Ikotos town, identified only as Mary, said soldiers who have been in the town for a long time should be transferred and that a new commissioner should be appointed.

“I know I will die, but I have to tell the truth. Nobody agrees with the commissioner. Since I came from Uganda in 2006, some people have not been changed from Ikotos.  You, the governor, were taken to Kapoeta. Were you not brought back to Torit? We also need these soldiers here to be taken away, and the police replaced,” she said. “If they are not replaced or taken away, all of us will run away. I have even packed my luggage, but all eyes are on me now as the women's chairperson, so I am just ready if death comes.”

Stephen Yayo, a teacher, said the SSPDF treats every civilian as SPLA-IO hence the mistrust in the area.

“We need peace and unity like it was in the past. People have run away. Two people who were killed, and these soldiers should compensate them,” he said. “The commanders for wildlife and prison are all working together with the SSPDF. There should be an investigation into why innocent people who were not involved in the clashes were killed.”

Meanwhile, the paramount chief of Ikotos County, Odongi Joseph, who said he was threatened and is living in hiding, agreed that the soldiers in the area should be replaced.

“The SSPDF here shoot youth. The commissioner tried his best to investigate but in vain. The soldiers who are to provide protection have instead turned on the people of Ikotos,” he said. “People are being arrested arbitrarily by SSPDF, and I am worried I will be finished off. There are threats and lootings at night which have made people flee.”

“The army barracks cannot be in the centre and should be out of town like it is in Torit,” he added.

Governor Lobong was accompanied by the commander of the SSPDF’s Division 7, the state head of national security, the state police commissioner, and the state minister of local government and peacebuilding.