2 chiefs from Bor community arrested over killing of villagers in Central Equatoria

JUBA – At least two chiefs from Dinka Bor’s pastoralist community have been arrested and taken to Juba following the killing of five innocent civilians in a village belonging to Central Equatoria State on Friday, according to a local official.

Gunmen suspected to be members of the Bor Community pastoralists on Friday afternoon attacked villagers at Lokiliri Payam of Juba County killing at least five people and wounding six others. The victims are all farmers.

The government of Central Equatoria in a statement on Saturday condemned the killing and issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the pastoralists to return to their areas of origin or face forceful eviction by the government in Juba.

Michael Francis, the Payam Director of Lokiliri Payam said this morning that two community chiefs have been arrested and transported to Juba and said security forces are still on the ground as he says the security situation has remained tense.

“They were killed in cold blood on Saturday, and we have not buried them. These people were killed by armed cattle keepers. The dead were found sitting in their house and were shot at by the armed men, five of them died, and six others were injured, and one is still missing up to today,” Francis is quoted by Radio Tamazuj as saying.

“We managed to apprehend two chiefs from the cattle camps in the area to help in tracking the perpetrators, and they were arrested and taken to Juba. Currently, the security personnel are tracking the perpetrators,” he added.