RUMBEK – At least seven people were reportedly killed and five other wounded during an attack at a fishing area in Yirol East County, Lakes State, allegedly by armed elements coming from the direction of Unity State.
Lakes Minister of Information and Communication William Koji Kerjok said the assailants came from neighboring Panyijiar County and opened fire on fishermen. Seven people died and five were injured, with others unaccounted for after being scattered in the bushes.
Koji said Yirol East Commissioner and members of the armed forces were in pursuit of the attackers.
“These are criminals from Panyijiar county of Unity State. They have been killing people in Yirol East County and ran back to Panyijiar of Unity State,” he said.
“The government of Lakes State will continue to track them down and we will continue to ask the government of Unity State if at all they can stop these young people from creating criminals’ activities from neighboring states.”
He said the incident led to the lost of properties and left farming communities in panic. Koji urges Unity State government to Unity State government to do something about the attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.
The cross-border violence has been recurrent between armed civilians in Yirol East and Panyijiar and intensified this year.
In the last few months, Panyijiar authorities said boats coming to and leaving the region have come under ambushes along the Nile on several occasions. Such attacks often targets traders and led to the deaths and loss of properties.
Daniel Laat, a civil society activist in Lakes State, condemned the attacks.
“This is a very unfortunate situation, and we condemn it in strongest term possible as CEPO. We are calling on the State government to be always vigilant because Yirol East County has been attacked by suspected armed criminals from Panyijiar county and because of lack of protection that is why innocent lives are being lost.”
“Those penetrators must be brought to book and for relative calm to be at the border. Accountability should take its own course. We regret that incident and we are calling upon the families of those who have lost their lives. May their souls rest in peace and condolences to all of them.”
Panyijiar authorities are yet to respond to the accusation.
