Citizens of Nimule town of Eastern Equatoria State fear further unrest after two police officers were killed by armed men believed to be cattle keepers last week.
The killing of the two officers happened two days after 20 people were killed and several others injured in cattle related violence in Melijo village of Nimule town. The incident occurred when unidentified local raiders attacked cattle keepers in the area.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, several local residents in Nimule said they have been staying indoors due to fear of insecurity in the area.
A Nimule resident who only identified himself as Ongom described the situation as calm but said a number of people have left their areas back to the refugee camps in Uganda.
“The situation is not so bad. Fear is there and people are leaving their areas back to the camp and for almost three days people are just going,” Ongom said.
Kenyi Isaac, another resident of Nimule, said despite the deployment of security forces, many people still fear for their lives.
“People are scared because of the security situation. There are a lot of rumors because this situation started when some groups of people came here and raided the cattle of a certain group who lives in Nimule here from a place called Mugali,” Kenyi said.
“So, some tribes staying here want to revenge claiming that some tribes here in Nimule took part in the raid and now people are leaving Nimule because some of the owners of the raided cattle are staying in Nimule town and they want to take revenge,” he added.
A local journalist in Nimule town who preferred anonymity said: “Now it is a bit calm, but sometimes you may hear in the morning that someone is killed or someone is beaten to coma and these are the things that are happening here.”
He added, “But people fear so much. There are others who have already gone to Uganda and there are others who have gone to Juba with their families.”
The Governor of Eastern Equatoria State Louis Lobong Lojore and Magwi County Commissioner David Otto are expected to appear before the president to explain the unfolding crisis in the area.