Investigations into the killing of two officers from the police and fire brigade in Budi County of Eastern Equatoria State on Tuesday are underway, a local official said.
The two officers were shot dead by unknown assailants along the Camp15-Chukudum road.
Budi County Commissioner Akilleo Omboya told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that the officers died in the line of duty and that the government is committed to bringing their killers to book.
“On Tuesday, some criminals ambushed our soldiers and killed two personnel who were deployed along that road to secure the movement of people. That has been a hotspot where incidences of criminality have been happening,” he said. “Yesterday (Wednesday), we sent a team to the crime scene, and we will follow and identify the attackers and bring them to face the law.”
Lokoda John, the youth chairperson in Chukudum, said the soldiers who were killed had gone to check on their animal traps and that the local youths immediately followed the footmarks of the assailants but failed to find them.
“The soldiers who are killed had gone to check on their animal trap when they were ambushed by the criminals who shot them dead,” he explained. “The footmarks were followed, and the criminals climbed the mountain, and we lost their tracks. More troops are needed to patrol the areas around the mountain.”
Meanwhile, Moi Isaac, a parliamentarian representing the area, condemned the killings and said such acts hinder service delivery to grassroots populations.
“Two people died, and this is very destructive because that is the only route leading to Budi County headquarters where all services going to the people of Budi pass,” he said. “If such things happen, it is scary and interferes with both government and humanitarian services.”