Eastern Equatoria governor assured residents that the state has a strong security dispositive in place ahead of referendum scheduled to start within ten days.
Luis Lobong Lojore made this statement after he visited Budi County where five people were shot dead and three others burned in their house on Monday, Emmanuel Radio reported.Mr Lobong said his government deployed security personnel in all the centres and the hotspot areas across the state.
He added that there were also patrols in the high ways marred by robberies.
Mr Lobong urged Eastern Equatorians to stop cattle rustling and concentrate on the referendum to take the lead towards independence as they did in the liberation struggle.
Mr Lobong urged citizens to bury the divisions from the April elections and campaign peacefully for the referendum.
He urged Eastern Equatorians to turn up in great numbers for the vote on self-determination.