Yei Civil Society Condemns Killing of Three Civilians in Yei
Credit: One Citizen Daily Newspaper
The Yei Civil Society Organization Forum (YCSOF) has strongly condemned the killing of three civilians in Tokori Boma, Central Equatoria State, during South Sudan’s 15th Independence Day celebrations.
According to a statement issued on Monday, the violence began when a cattle trader traveling from Yei to purchase cattle from the Ambororo community was ambushed and killed at the 17-Mile area along the Yei–Maridi Road. The attackers reportedly stole all the victim’s money.
Following the incident, a group of armed civilians allegedly seized motorcycles by force and stormed Tokori Boma, where they killed two young men, wounded another, assaulted several residents—including the executive chief of Tokori Boma—and set three motorcycles on fire. One of the victims was identified as Lerida Joseph Likambu, a church worker with the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS), who was reportedly killed and mutilated.
The civil society forum condemned all forms of road ambushes and retaliatory violence, urging communities to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and instead allow authorities to investigate the incident.
YCSOF called on county authorities to conduct a transparent investigation, bring those responsible to justice, and urged both the state and national governments to address the presence of Ambororo pastoralists in Tokori and Tore.
The organization also questioned the effectiveness of security measures along the Yei–Tore Road, alleging that the armed attackers passed through three military checkpoints before carrying out the attack and returning to town without being intercepted.
The statement was signed by Modi Archangelo, Chairperson of the Yei Civil Society Organization Forum.
