About 20 suspects have been arrested following inter-communal clashes that have claimed three lives in Lowoi Payam of Torit County in Eastern Equatoria State.
The arrests are a result of a decision by the state government to deploy security forces to investigate recent intercommunal clashes and bring perpetrators to justice.
On 24 April, three people were killed and two others critically injured in a fight between youth of Lohilo and Lohira village over a woman in Lowoi Payam.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Torit County Commissioner Jacob Atari Albano said those found guilty will face justice for the crimes committed.
“The incident that happened in Lowoi on the 24th of April, youth from Lohirai and Lohilo had conflict before, but we went there with forces and surrounded the two camps and we were able to apprehend more than 20 suspects when we brought here in Police Station today we manage to sit with the legal administration we were able to separate those who did not actually involve in killing and we managed to release 10 suspects now they are in police custody and the law has to take its course, he said
Major General James Monday Enoka, Commissioner of Police in Eastern Equatoria State, confirmed the arrests and said the suspects are in police custody for further investigations.
He said members of the organized forces are still on the ground to provide security to local communities on both sides of the inter-communal violence. He also urged the affected communities to embrace peace:
“They have been arrested and are in custody and their case was raised and there is an ongoing investigation because there are many [people] in number because it is a community conflict and people died in the conflict. Investigation in detail will be conducted to see who exactly committed the act and thereafter, the case will be raised to the prosecutor. They are currently in the central division here in Torit. There is deployment in the area after these youths were arrested, and I am urging these communities to live in peace, we as police or security organs would love to see civilians living in peace,” State police commissioner Maj. Gen. James Monday Enoka explained.
A prominent human rights activist in the state has applauded the security forces for their swift effort to restore calm and apprehend all those involved in the deaths of citizens in the inter-communal clashes.
Itale Abure said the state government must also exert more effort toward creating a peaceful environment for citizens.
“First of all, we give thanks to God for the effort exerted by the government in tracing all the culprits and bringing them to book and we also thank the community on the ground in collaboration with other stakeholders in tracing where the culprits were. It is not just a matter of bringing them into custody but really to investigate them thoroughly and the law has to take its own course. Because we lost the precious souls of our sons and daughters and we are not happy. I request the government to continue without any discouragement to make Eastern Equatoria a secure and peaceful environment,” rights activist Abure said.
Lowoi Payam Head Chief Dominic Joseph said there is relative calm in the area but has urged the government to establish a police station in the area to curb crime.
“The situation currently is not bad, people are moving and the case is still in the hand of the judge. Many people have returned to their homes except a few who escaped to Juba and other far places have not returned but many people have returned to their original places and the security situation has somehow improved. The cause of all this; these young youths are drinking alcohol, and this alcohol should be stopped and the police should be present in this village. There are no police here in Lowoi. We need some police officers to be present here,” suggested Lowoi head Chief Dominic.