The governor of Lakes State, Gen. Riny Tueny Mabor, has condemned the killing of three men from the state in Central Equatoria State’ Terekeka County on 31 December 2022 by suspected bandits.
Mayen Mayor Majok, Madeng Mayor Majok, and Tarer Akum Adut, all family members, left Juba on that fateful day en route to Yirol in Lakes State via Tali on two motorcycles but were ambushed in Mundari-Bura, killed and their motorbikes looted.
Lakes State acting information minister William Koji Kirjok told Radio Tamazuj during the week that his government is demanding that the Central Equatoria State authorities apprehend those responsible for the ambush and murder.
“It is the responsibility of Central Equatoria State to apprehend those criminals who attacked and killed the three people in a road ambush,” he said. “This is an act of banditry, and those responsible for the killing need to be apprehended and brought to book.”
In a written statement dated 4 January, the press secretary of the Central Equatoria State governor, Derick Derickson, condemned the killing of the three Lakes State citizens.
“The office of the governor of Central Equatoria State is enormously saddened to learn of the killing of the three citizens of Lakes State in its territory by unknown gunmen in Mundari Bura of Terekeka County,” he wrote.
The press secretary conveyed Central Equatoria State Governor Emmanuel Adil’s sympathies to the bereaved family and to the people and leadership of Lakes State.
“We condemn in the strongest sense possible these acts of banditry perpetrated by some defiant members of our society,” Derickson wrote. “The Central Equatoria State leadership will use all avenues possible to bring to book such criminals where possible with the help of the security apparatus.”
“The office of the governor of Central Equatoria State equally concurs with the government of Lakes State on the importance of maintaining peace and harmony among our sisterly states,” he added.
Derickson called for calm and urged citizens to be law abiding and allow the state leadership to pursue the criminals.