By Jacob Onuha Nelson and Alan Clement
The Executive Chief of Nerbe Boma, Diastore Modi, yesterday confirmed that two people have been killed and others abducted in Lokiliri Payam over the weekend.
Speaking to the No. 1 Citizen Daily English Newspaper, Modi said that the incident has left the community in shock and mourning, further escalating insecurity in the area.
“In the dawn, the executive chief of Aru Junction called me and said criminals killed 2 parents and abducted 5 kids at the border of Lokoya Payam and Liria Payam of Eastern Equatoria State,” Modi said.
He underscored two parents (a father and the mother) were killed and five kids abducted, including other kids of his brother, on the same day.
According to the executive chief, the suspect was allegedly the Murle youth of the Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
“The abducted kids were suspected to be teenagers. Why? Because they can’t abduct big people because they often abduct kids only,” he stated.
Modi further called upon the government to intervene and rescue the community’s situation in the area.
“I can’t talk about the government because I am not a government official. There is a government, but they can’t pursue the enemies. I don’t know why the government doesn’t want to protect it’s people,” Modi added.
He however, blamed the government for not playing its role in Lokiliri Payam, citing “last June there was a boy killed and the government didn’t pursue the enemies”. He spoke.
Efforts to reach the authorities in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area for comments were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, civil society activists and religious leaders have condemned the incident in Lokiliri payam.
Speaking to this outlet, Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), has condemned the incident.
He underscored the killings on Sunday night as a criminal and unacceptable act that has left children traumatized and in danger.
“This is unacceptable. This is a slave trade behavior. This is an act of crime against humanity that should not be condoned,” Yakani said in a statement issued Monday.
Yakani expressed frustration at what he called government inaction. “Lokiliri Payam of Juba County is experiencing consistent incidents of children being adopted or parents being killed in the eyes of the government without any genuine and effective response,” he said.
He further appealed to authorities in both Central Equatoria State and Greater Pibor Administrative Area to act decisively to apprehend the perpetrators.
“These individuals who are criminal-minded, who do not represent the culture and values of the population of Greater Pibor, should be brought to book and held accountable,” Yakani urged.
Yakani called on state and national leaders to uphold their constitutional duty to protect civilians, warning that continued inaction would embolden further violence against vulnerable communities.
CEPO has pledged to continue advocating for accountability and protection of vulnerable communities affected by violence and abduction.
The Episcopal Church of South Sudan, through the Most Reverend Dr. Paul Benjamin Yuguduk, Archbishop of Central Equatoria Internal Province, also joined the call for justice and accountability.
In a statement, Archbishop Yuguduk expressed profound disappointment in the government’s failure to protect civilians and condemned the incident as a moral and humanitarian outrage.
“We condemn this barbaric incident and urge the government to investigate and apprehend the culprits. We express our heartfelt sympathy to the families affected, and may God console all the families and the Aru community at this difficult time,” read the statement from the church.
The Church stands as a moral compass and a pillar of hope in times of crisis. Its unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and compassion is essential in healing the wounds of violence and guiding our society toward a more humane and secure future.