Cattle herders kill chief in Lainya

A traditional leader has been killed by cattle keepers in Lainya county, Central Equatoria state on Thursday last week according to state authorities.
The deceased an executive chief of Wuji Payam was allegedly shot and killed in Wuji area by suspected armed pastoralists from Terekeka County on Thursday afternoon, the State minister of information and communication Paulino Lukudu Obede, confirmed
“Yes indeed over the past week, there were issues of displacement, looting of cattle and other properties including killing of the locals by armed Mundari Cattle Herders in Lainya County” Obede told Juba Echo over the weekend.
He added that the Government of Central Equatoria State formed a Response Committee headed by Security Advisor and representatives from both Communities to go to Lainya County and defuse the volatile situation.
“The Committee was accompanied by two Commissioners of Lainya and Terekeka (Counties) to talk to the communities and individuals who engaged in this violence activities becasue more than Seven people were killed and the latest was a Chief of Wuji.” Said Obede

He said the most unfortunate thing was that the committee was attacked as it was heading to Lainya.
“The Committee dispatched from Juba on 6/5/2021 and unfortunately it fell in an ambush in an area called Lokurubang and their journey was disrupted, they couldn’t reach the area at the expected date, but all of them are safe and planning to go to the areas where the cattle herders are and assist then by directing then to leave Lainya County to go back safely to their places of origin.” He concluded.