Lobonok Youth Association condemns killing of two fishermen by suspected armed cattle herders

The Lobonok Youth Association has condemned the killing of two young men at Yapa area of Lobonok County by suspected armed ‘foreign’ cattle herders on Sunday evening.

Moses Korsuk Matthew, Chairman of Lobonok Youth Association told Juba Echo via phone that the young men were shot dead and later cut when they went fishing at a river in the afternoon hours of Sunday.

“Yesterday, four of our Lobonok youth went to Yapa river fishing so when they were at the river, they found themselves surrounded by enemies who are cattle keepers from another part of the country. They shot them (when they were taken inside the river), they got them out of the water and cut their bodies with pangas,” Moses Matthew narrated.

He said the suspects are at large and efforts of organized forces to apprehend them have not been successful stating the leaders of the cattle camps in the area have been called for questioning.

Moses said it is unfortunate that youth who are trying to get food for their hunger stricken families are murdered in cold blood at a time when cultivation has not been favored due to unreliable rainfall.

He is calling for justice and that the cattle herders should vacate the area for peace to reign.

“All youth in Lobonok are very angry because of the way the armed “foreign” pastoralists are killing some of their own. The government should intervene in this issue. If we dialogue and they agree to leave to original places to allow our local farm, it will be good,” Moses said.

Armed cattle herders continue to worsen the humanitarian situation of civilians in counties of Central Equatoria State. Efforts by the government to contain the situation have been unsuccessful.