SSPDF officer shot dead in Torit by cattle rustlers

The Deputy Director for Military Intelligence in Eastern Equatoria State, Maj. John Khamis has been shot dead by cattle raiders in Torit town, local officials said.

The Deputy Director for Military Intelligence in Eastern Equatoria State, Maj. John Khamis has been shot dead by cattle raiders in Torit town, local officials said.

Speaking to the Radio Tamazuj on Friday, Monday Enoka, the state Police Commissioner said Major John Khamish was shot deal on Thursday while trying to rescue cattle from raiders.

“There is a place where a small number of cows are being kept for business purposes near Safari Link Hotel so they were taken out for grazing and the criminals came and raided the cows,” he said.

He added, “So the security forces were informed so they went after the criminals and they clashed. The security personnel recovered the cows but very unfortunately one of the army officers was killed during the exchange of fire, he is the Deputy Director of Military intelligence.”

The police commissioner stated that authorities in the area are investigating the incident.

Charles Onen Tokwaru, the Chairperson for Civil society Network in Eastern Equatoria State, calls on the government to restore peace and stability in the area.

He encourages citizens there to desist from cattle rustling and embrace the spirit of peaceful coexistence.

“As civil society, we would like people to be calm, we need to refrain from cattle raiding which is trying to disorganise us. So we are kindly calling upon the government who has the capacity and the ability to restore peace and stability to it’s their part,” he said.

Meanwhile, Patrick Oting Cyprian, the State Minister of information has condemned the latest raid, pledging justice for the SSPDF officer.

“The government of Eastern Equatoria State condemns the raid and the killing of the MI officer Major John Khamis on the strongest terms possible. We ask the surrounding payams of Torit County to find who are those raiders and arrest them and hand them to the state authorities so that they face the law and pay for their criminal actions,” Minister Oting said.