The Commissioner of Lujulo County in South Sudan’s Yei River State has resigned from his position on Thursday citing “human rights violations” by SPLA government forces including the murders of several people in his county last week.

Toti Jacob says he handed over his resignation following continuous grave human rights violations and deteriorating insecurity in the newly created thirteen counties of the state.

In his resignation letter seen by Radio Tamazuj, Toti stated that last week SPLA soldiers launched heavy destruction on the civil population that resulted in the brutal murder of a school head teacher, religious leader, burning of market centre, church building and looting of properties belonging to the civil population in the county.

He said these actions by SPLA soldiers caused many civilians to flee into the bushes while others ran to Uganda and Congo for safety.

“I don’t feel happy to see my own people being killed, tortured and houses burnt down. As such I have taken this hard decision to quit this position. Reasons are: last week our government forces looted a church, followed by shooting and burning of a market centre in the village. They also killed one person working for a local church and also killed the head teacher of Nyei Primary school.”

Toti added, “I am really very disappointed on the way the government soldiers are mistreating their own people and their unprofessional actions has made me to quite this position.”

He has also dismissed claims that he has been assigned by the state and central governments to hunt down Yei intellectuals residing in the West Nile region and Uganda at large.

“I also want to take this opportunity to dismiss an allegation that my name is in a document to hunt down people who hail from Yei River State to be deported back to South Sudan. My position is very clear, the situation in South Sudan needs inclusive dialogue but not deportation of people to South Sudan,” he said.

“People have come to Uganda as individuals with their own different reasons. There is no way to join any group against the will of God by deporting them back to South Sudan to be killed. I wanted to be clear on this point that I cannot and I am not part of this mistake.”

The ex-commissioner called on the leadership of Yei River State headed by Colonel David Lokonga Moses to count him out of his government and appoint his replacement. He suggested that embracing inclusive dialogue for peace talks and observation of the principles of good governance are the only tools to see peace and stability in Yei River state.

Lujulo County is located eleven miles west of Morobo County and 35 miles southwest of Yei River State headquarters.

Photo: Lujulo County Commissioner Toti Jacob (File Photo)