Fresh fighting in Akobo leaves 2 dead
About two people are reported to have been killed and two others wounded when fighting broke out on Thursday morning in Akobo County of Jonglei.
Speaking to The City Review, the Police Commissioner of Jonglei, Maj. Gen. Joseph Mayen Akoon said fighting broke out between people in Akobo and criminals, which left two people dead and two others wounded.
He said the police in the morning received information from security personnel deployed on the ground and added that they quickly intervened to restore calm in the area.
Maj. Gen. Mayen said the situation on the ground is calm and the police are in control of the situation.
“The Police got information on fighting that had broken out in Akobo between people in the County and alleged criminals. Due to presence of our officers on ground, we were able to quell the situation and restore peace in the area,” he said.
As a result of the fighting, two people were killed and two others wounded.
The Police Commissioner said certain regions, for instance Uror County of Jonglei, are under SPLA-IO and others under government and for that reason they are unable to access certain areas under the opposition’s control.
“Some regions are under SPLA-IO and it is not easy to access those areas. At times, police officers patrolling those areas end up becoming victims,” he added.
The Major General said they await the graduation of the Unified forces who are in cantonment sites so that they can have one unified force that can maintain law and order in the Country.
Early last week, the Police Commissioner revealed that 12,380 herds of cattle had been stolen and two people killed when a group of rustlers raided Lony and Padoi in Akobo West County of Jonglei.
The local official claimed the attacks were carried out by cattle raiders suspected of having come from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
A sentiment also echoed by Brig. Gen. Marial Gatluak, the Police Inspector of Nyirol County, who accused armed bandits from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) over the attack in Lel fishing area on the outskirts of Langkien town of Nyirol County which left seven people dead and six others injured.
Maj. Gen. Joseph Mayen said youths from Nyirol County pursued the cattle rustlers, however, no new information had reached him.
The senior official, however, did not disclose the number of people arrested in the skirmish in Akobo County but said the police is investigating the matter and will update The City Review as time progresses.
