‘We are living in good relationship with the neighbouring County Lopa/Lafon except issues of cattle theft happening among the two counties’, Emmanuel Epone Lolimo Commissioner of Kapoeta North County in Eastern Equatoria State voices out.
He discloses involving the community to help apprehend the culprits of the cattle theft related issues that happened at Imehejek area in Lopa/Lafon County by some suspected youth from his county.
He vows to maintain the peace agreement signed by both communities last year and that anti-peace should not interfere with the relationship between the two counties.
“Kapoeta North County is relatively peaceful, calm, with our neighbours we are living without any problem, except the stealing cattle from Lafon Imehejek corridor; they are actually stealing three cows. Three calves and goats, and we have involved the community very soon we shall apprehend them, our relationship is in place in fact we mate last year in August the peace is in place, so the peace spoilers should not be the reason why the relationship should be worsening, the communities are aware this peace caller are everywhere not only in my county everywhere in South Sudan”, Commissioner Eponi says.
The commissioner appeals to the community of Lopa/Lafon to allow him optimum time to do investigation in order to apprehend criminals and return the stolen cattle to the owners.
He appreciates the Lopit community of Imehejek area for being patient and understanding the issue.
The official says they are ready to implement the peace agreement of last year held by the two counties in bringing peace by opening a common market for the two communities for peaceful coexistence.
“First of all, I would like to appreciate the youth and the community of Lafon County specially Lopit for their patience and understanding, and I want to appeal them to give me time because, we are working very hard to identify the criminals and arrest them and identify to recover the cattle, I want to continue appealing to them that, let be open to the community very soon we shall be moving to the area and allow our community to interact especially the business activity of the common market they agree last time to Establish for the two communities”, he acknowledges.
Commissioner of Lopa/Lafon County On his counterpart Magisto Ukach says the incidents are done by some individuals not the whole community.
He appeals to people committing crimes to refrain from it saying it fuels conflict among communities that cause loss of lives to people.
“It is true the relationship between the two communities of Kapoeta North and Lopa/Lafon is in place people are living peacefully for miner and isolated cases of theft, this are just some individuals doing it to cause confusion it is not the entire community, unless if you want to buy something come legally then you buy it, instead of raiding or stealing because it is illegal that can cause death, Therefore I appeal to those who involve in cattle raiding and theft let them avoid and refrain from this and embrace peace”, he pleads.
The speakers made their statements to Radio Emmanuel in a telephone interview from their respectful counties.