An eye witness told Juba Echo this morning that a passenger vehicle [Land Cruiser] was travelling from Yei to Juba on Thursday when unknown gunmen opened fire at the car between Lokurugbang and Lainya. The driver did not stop but their gunshots left one person dead and three others critically injured. No property was looted. Those who sustained injuries were then rushed to Juba in ambulance for medical attention.
Two trucks destined for Yei from Juba to bring timbers were also burnt at the Choir area all in Lainya County of Central Equatoria State.
Archbishop of the Central Equatoria Internal Province who is also Bishop of Lainya Episcopal Diocese Paul Pitia Yugusuk confirmed the incident and condemned it in the strongest terms possible calling on all the parties to the conflict to adhere to the cessation of hostilities agreement.
In a statement issued on Friday, Central Equatoria Minister for Information and Communication who is also the official state government spokesperson, Paulino Lukude Obede calls on the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements, Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) to investigate the incidents and hold the perpetrators to account.
He accused the National Salvation Front of carrying out the attack on civilians and reiterated calls for them to re-join the current peace process to achieve sustainable peace in areas of Central Equatoria.
While opening a forum for commissioners and mayors this week, the Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony said the continuous violence perpetrated by armed hold out groups to the revitalized continue to hamper the smooth delivery of much needed services to the population including carrying out of economic activities.
