Four people killed along Yei-Kaya Road

Authorities in Yei River County of Central Equatoria State have confirmed that four people have been killed and three others seriously wounded at Payawa area of Mugwo Payam on Wednesday evening.

The four people are reported to have been shot dead while returning on their motorcycles from a local market called Ginjani in Mugwo Payam of Yei River County.

This latest killing comes just one day after two South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) soldiers were killed and three others injured in yet another attack on commercial and military vehicles along the Yei – Kaya Road on Monday afternoon.

Last Saturday morning, two vehicles were burnt and civilians’ property looted along the same Yei-Kaya road just 12 miles from the town.

Yei River County Commissioner, Aggrey Cyrus insists they will not suspend any travel along the Yei-Kaya road despite the looming security threat is posed by the incidents of violence of armed gunmen and without instituting security mechanisms.

“We are not going to suspend any travel along the Yei-Kaya road because if we suspend, that means we should have an alternative of how we meet the livelihood and the economic needs of people in Yei but we’ll institute some security arrangements that will safeguard movement of people and vehicles along the road peacefully,” Aggrey Cyrus said

The outgoing Yei Police Chief, Yoasa Lujang Kamba says armed rebel forces have surrounded Yei town. He says five miles away from the town on all major roads including the Yei-Kaya, Yei-Abba (Congo), Yei-Maridi and Yei-Juba roads are very insecure.

On Tuesday, some women are reported to have gang raped by armed men along the Yei-Maridi road.

Civilians are already concerned about the recent wave of killings and calls on the Yei River County commissioner who is the head of security organs in the area to do the needful.