A man was shot dead in Haforiere village, Hiyala Payam of Torit County in Eastern Equatoria State on Tuesday evening local officials said.
Oholong Angelo, 29, was gunned down by youths suspected to be from Hiyala village according to a local chief who said the killing was motivated by revenge.
The Tirangore Boma chief, Senabio Tiya, confirmed the incident and said last week youth from Haforiere village stormed Hiyala village and killed a man which he believes prompted the Hiyala youth to avenge.
“Yes there was an incident yesterday (Tuesday) around 5 pm and a man was killed at his home,” Chief Tiya said. “This is revenge because Haforiere (youth) earlier went and killed a person in Hiyalla and now they have come for revenge. All these boys are criminals.”
He said they have advised the youth to avoid revenge counter attacks to avoid further deaths.
“We told these boys that (Tuesday) night that they will finish off each other and many of them admitted as the elders spoke to them,” Chief Tiya said.
Torit County Commissioner Atari Jacob Albano said he was aware of the incident and that the footprints of the attackers led to Hiyala village.
“You see, these people are not giving us time, even us the authorities, and yet the government is working out how to arrest this issue because I know recently they committed to peace and signed a letter but again they have violated it,” Commissioner Atari said.
He added: “The challenge we have is that we lack police, organized forces that can help the county and it is difficult for us to take action at the moment.”
Commissioner Atari said he is arranging for an urgent meeting with intellectuals from both communities to bring an end to tensions and cyclic attacks.
Meanwhile, the state minister of culture, youth, and sports, Stella Iromo Vitale, said she was disappointed by the continuous insecurity orchestrated by the youth in the defunct Torit East County and demanded that the criminals be apprehended and brought to book.
“As a government, we cannot allow our children to just die. We must talk about this and we want to arrest these criminals and jail them,” Minister Iromo said. “They have not been arrested that is why they are continuing.”