A local official in Kapoeta South County in Eastern Equatoria State confirmed that three people were gunned down in the Lowering gold mining area by suspected Buya youth from Budi County on Monday.

Juma Justine, the executive director of the county who is momentarily acting commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that as the state was busy commemorating the twelfth Independence Day anniversary in Riwoto on Sunday, suspected cattle rustlers attempted to steal cattle from the Machi area but their plans were thwarted.

He says the criminals returned on Monday and killed three members of the same area, all in their 30s, in the new gold mining area.

“On the 10 July at around 2 pm, armed Buya tribesmen attacked four people who were mining gold in the Oturtur area. They killed Lotoer Lomukunyo, Lopidinga Lomukunyo, and Lotyam Namurya on the spot. The fourth miner managed to flee,” he said. “This is a very bad thing and if people have issues with cattle, they should focus on that instead of killing innocent people who are trying to earn a living by mining gold.”  

“As a government, we condemn the killings and are sending our message to the Buya community to stop such atrocities because it is cultivation season and people should be peaceful,” Justine added.

He urges Toposa to remain calm as authorities from the two counties trace the suspects.

Meanwhile, Martin Lopir Lotubai, an SPLM lawmaker who represents the area in the state assembly, urged Buya leaders to advise their youth to stop killing innocent people.

“The senseless killings indeed happened and I advise my people (Toposa) not to react. The governor is aware of the incident and I thank God that up to now there is no tension as the aggrieved people have listened to the government,” he said. “This is the first time such a thing has happened. The Buya have and mine gold in their area of Lohapeleriangan and bring and sell it in Kapoeta and this shows that there is peace between the two communities. So, I am surprised that the Buya came and killed people in the gold area.”

For his part, Eastern Equatoria State Peacebuilding Minister Marko Lokidor Lochapio says his ministry has spearheaded many peace initiatives and is surprised that such attacks are still happening.

“The victims were mining gold to survive but the criminals came from Buya and killed them. The people who were killed were unarmed,” He said. “We cannot allow such crimes to continue and the government will send security forces to pursue the criminals from village to village till they are arrested. The chiefs must stand with the government so that the killers are apprehended.”

Efforts to reach Budi County authorities were futile.