The Governor of Eastern Equatoria State has directed Magwi authorities to urgently investigate alleged cattle influx into the County to avert the repeat of 2022 violent incident which claimed several lives.

“I have directed the commissioner of Magwi and the town clerk of Nimule to establish facts and then to let me know who are these groups, whose cattle are they and where they are coming from, and heading where?

Last week, some whistle blowers from Magwi County’s Nyolo Payam reported that herds of cattle were seen roaming at border of Central Equatoria with Magwi, expressing worries the herders may enter the county.

In his response to the alert, Governor Louise Lobong echoed the March 2022 farmers-herders violence in which claimed several lives.

The state governor believes that the herders are migrating in search of water and grazing land, but says they should approach state authorities for directives.

“And again, if that they are coming back base on lack of water to their animals or grass or due to insecurity, they should approach the state authority so that they should directed or offered what to do.”

Locals in Lokiri Payam of Central Equatoria State have raised an alarm over mass movement of livestock to cultivated areas, destroying unharvested crops.

According to Biastori Modi Modesto, Chief of Ngeribe Boma, the situation has caused panic among the local population, forcing households to evacuate the area.

“Those people came and they stay in place called Moyo Gali, they stayed there and left two days back to Aru Junction in a place called Kope – all of them are there now.

“The ones (herders) who are left behind, are the one collecting their remaining cows there and out of fear, the people with farms like seven or eight run away”, Chief Modesto confirmed to Eye Radio in an exclusive interview Monday morning.

Meanwhile Lokiliri Community Leader, Simon Pitia urged government to intervene and repatriate the cattle herders to protect farmlands from potential cattle encroachment.

“We would like the government to urgently intervene and retreat these cattle herders to their place of origin because for us the Lulubo people, we entirely depend on God’s blessing from the land.

“We are farmers, and we do our activities manually but now if these items are destroyed, how are we going to survive?

“We don’t have guns, we only want peace with the people as said by the President that people should stay in peace among themselves . So, the government should intervene in this matter.”

When contacted on the matter, Leone Abe who is Central Equatoria State Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency declined to comment.

Farmers-herders conflict have been recurrent despite the 2018 Presidential order banning cattle herders from interfering with farms.

Yearly governors’ forum has repeated called for an end to herders’ interference with farming communities  but this has not bore any results.