Man shot dead in Torit County cattle raid clash

A 25-year-old man was shot dead in a cattle raid clash in Hiyala, Torit County of Eastern Equatoria State on Tuesday

The incident happened when an unidentified group of criminals attacked a kraal in Hiyala, shooting and killing cattle, prompting the local youth to engage them in the clash that left one dead.

Local authorities accused the youth of Haforiere of being behind the attack after the footmarks were said to have entered their territory.

Last month, a man identified as Odura John was shot dead in a revenge attack between the Haforieri and Hiyala.

Hiyala Paramount Chief Galileo Ohide told Radio Tamazuj that the incident happened at 5am.

He said the continuous clashes among the Hiyala communities were due to revenge killings, and urged the government to devise amicable solutions to the conflicts.

“This morning at around 5am, some three criminals attacked and shot at cattle in a kraal at Hiyala and at around 1am, the local youth followed the footmarks and there was an exchange of  fire in the bush and one Hiyala youth was shot dead,” he said.

Haforiere Youth Leader Dominic Oyanga admitted that his colleagues attacked and killed a man in Hiyala and raided unspecified head of cattle.

He urged the government to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book, saying the youth cannot effect arrests for fear of aggression from families.

Eastern Equatoria State SPLM lawmaker Angela Ajana Onorio condemned the act and called on the youth to desist from criminal activities.

She said several dialogues and reconciliations for the Hiyala and Haforiere have been conducted but with no success.