Governor Lobong raises alarm over Torit-Juba highway insecurity

The Governor of Eastern Equatoria State, Louis Lobong Lojore, has raised concerns over the increasing insecurity along Torit-Juba road.
The governor said that lawlessness in the busy and important highway is threatening the development progressive in the country.
Lobong was reacting to last Friday’s attack by armed cattle herders in an area along the highway that left about 17 people dead; five of them were from Eastern Equatoria State.
The state boss added that the Central Equatoria State government was engaging the national administration on how to address the insecurity.
“Even though it’s not in our territory, we are using the highway,” he noted adding that “I have talked with the government of Central Equatoria State and the national government [and told them that] what is happening in that area is creating fear among the people of Eastern Equatoria who are using the highway.”
“We have lost five of our boys who are in the army and they were deployed in that area, and also our sons who were, for one reason or another, trying to survive by making charcoal around that area. I am told about seventeen of them,” Lobong said.
Governor Lobong further said the government was working hard to ensure the suspects were brought to book. He also called on the citizens not to fear as forces that have been deployed in the area.
“We want to find out who is doing what or who are these people who have attacked [that area] two times.
“We are monitoring and we will continue to update you, for the time being, now that the roads are open, forces and are being deployed, “he stressed.