Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 36-year-old man who was shot to death on his farm in Lafon County in Eastern Equatoria State on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Ayafa Itawok Oriet.
Angelo James Ayonyang, a member of the state legislative assembly, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the man was killed on his farm on Christmas day.
“We don’t want criminals to disturb our peace; we need peaceful coexistence, especially with the neighbours. It is not good when such incidents occur,” Angelo said. “We call upon the communities to maintain peace. If there are some criminals from all those villages, they should not hide them. They have to be exposed to face justice.”
Meanwhile, the Oronyo community leader Kanuto Attari Inyasio confirmed the incident and said they are investigating the circumstances under which the man was killed.
“This incident is true; the information reached me when I came from Torit. So when I returned, I found that the youth had gone to pursue some criminals who attempted to raid cattle belonging to an old man. So there was a clash between them. This is what I heard from them,” he explained.
For his part, the state information minister Patrick Oting Cyprian condemned the incident and urged the communities to work for peace.
“The government condemns the killing of Ayafa Itawok Oriet on the strongest terms possible and asks the chiefs and elders to arrest those involved in the killing and hand them to the relevant authorities,” he said.