2 detained by security forces in Nimule over Kajo-keji violence released

JUBA, FEBRUARY 9^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – At least two civilians detained by security forces earlier this week in Nimule over alleged links to last week’s violence in Kajo-keji County of Central Equatoria state have been released, according to a senior local government official.

On Monday, several sources informed Sudans Post of the arrest of four civilians – three men and one woman – while traveling to Juba from Kajo-keji through Nimule just a few days after violence between cattle herders from Jonglei and local farmers claimed 27 lives.

The four were accused by security forces of inciting the violence after they were allegedly found in possession of minutes of a meeting held by local community in Kajo-keji over an NGO operating in the area.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning from Nimule, the local government official who refused to be identified said two people, a man and a woman, were released on Wednesday afternoon, and the other two were still being detained.

“Yesterday, the security forces decided to release two of the four people who were arrested on Monday. Betty Julius, wife of Lodiong Julius, and Likiya have been released from detention by the authorities,” he said.

The security source further said that those who are still being detained are James Anita Jiggo and Lodiong Julius Ambude whose wife Betty has been released by the authorities, and further revealed that investigation was still taking place.

Violence broke out in Kajo-Keji County on Thursday last week after armed elements from the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka attacked a cattle camp housing Bor community cattle killing at least six people and forty cattle.

The armed cattle herders retaliated, but by attacking innocent villagers at Lire Payam in Kajo-keji killing at least twenty-one (21) people and displacing more than 2000 civilians, according to local and state authorities.