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LOPIT NORTH - 22 Jan 2020

Two killed over agricultural land dispute in Lopit North

At least two people have been killed in an agricultural land dispute between two communities in Lopit North County of Torit State, a lawmaker disclosed.

The clashes involved communities living in Leteji and Locharok villages.

Severino Maira Janus, an area MP in the national legislative assembly, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that conflict between the two communities started from 13 to 15 January.

“That dispute came about because of a rift over a garden. On January 13, people from the two communities tried to confront themselves but no one died. On January 14 and 15, two young men were killed when they fell into an ambush on the side of Leteji village,” he said.

The lawmaker said fighting started when people from Locharok village encroached on land belonging to the Tennet people of Leteji village.

He further said tension reduced after local authorities and a team of area lawmakers from Juba and Torit intervened.

“Together with a few police, we talked to them and told them that at least the community that committed the killing needs to sit down and try to resolve it amicably or through compensation. The problem is that when things are fresh and new, they are hard to handle,” said the MP.

The legislator appealed to the two communities in the area to co-exist and live peacefully to allow the state authorities do their work.

“We succeeded in making the two communities to stop hostilities among themselves. We warned them against revenge. We want them to coexist and live in harmony,” he stressed.