By Obale Emmanuel-Torit
Eastern Equatoria government cries to Jonglei cattle herders to evacuate due to the continuous issue of cattle raid related violence in the State.
Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore on Saturday released press statement saying the State government has since then been calling on the cattle herders, their community leaders and their government to evacuate to their areas of origin for the sake of peace and stability but the cattle herders heeded not to the call nor to the plea of their leaders.
Governor Lobong says two separate incidents happened in Mugali and Nimule Payam in Magwi county of Eastern Equatoria which led to loss of lives of women, children including elderly people, displacement of people and looting of shops in Nimule town this week were all cattle issues.
“On May 11, 2022, the cattle camp of Bor herders in Mugali, particularly the Melijo areas, was attacked by a group of Murle raiders from greater Pibor. A number of people were killed including women, children and elderly. Hundreds of Madi native were displaced to Nimule town, the state government immediately deployed policemen to the area to protect the fleeing people from Mugali. On the next day, May 12, 2022 two policemen deployed to protect the displaced, were shot dead in Nimule by the herders from Bor. The herders went on rampage shooting and looting shops in Nimule town”.
According to the statement, Lobong clarified that the security status of Magwi County is the outcome of the influx of cattle herders and raiders from the Greater Pibor and Jonglei region.
“I would like to make it clear that the unfortunate situation in Magwi county if Eastern Equatoria is the result of the influx of cattle herders and cattle raiders who are both from the Greater Pibor and Jonglei region. The people of Eastern Equatoria state are suffering from a conflict that I transferred from the Greater Jonglei State region to Eastern Equatoria State. I strongly reiterate my appeal to the people of Greater Jonglei to go back to their areas and try to find ways of addressing their issues among themselves. Call upon the leadership of both Jonglei State and Greater Pibor Administrative area to immediately take all the necessary measures to withdraw their people from EES”.
The governor therefore condemns violence and he terms it as a barbaric act and promises that they will work hard to restore peace.
He appeals to the population of Nimule and Eastern Equatoria State to remain calm because the concerned authority is trying its best to find an amicable solution to the problem.
“We condemn this barbaric act and we will not rest until peace is restored. I call upon our people in Nimule an entire EES to remain calm and to exercise maximum restraint because the State government is doing all it can to address the current situation”.
The governor made the press statement to the media on Saturday at his palace in Torit.