Chief Christopher Philip Ladu, Chief of Bilinyang of Mangalla Payam in Juba County - COURTESY

The Chief of Bilinyang of Mangalla Payam in Juba County has refuted reports that he has given land for resettlement IDPs in the area.

Chief Christopher Philip Ladu says he learned on a Radio someone identified as only Tombe claimed is the chief of the area and had given land to IDPs and returnees.

The information, he said, prompted him to go to the relevant institutions to find out who the person was.

But to date, he said, he has not found the person.

Chief Ladu says he is now considering opening a police case against the unknown man.

He believes the person is responsible for settling the people in the area.

“Let people know that I did not give them any land in Billnyang and I don’t have land to give to the IDP’s people, therefore I am not part of anything that will happen there,” Chief Ladu said.

“The person who took those people there is the one responsible for this case but this person is not there even in Billnyang,” he said.

“This forgery occurred when he announced on the Radio which is not his right and work when he said the chiefs of Billnyang had given land to the IDPs.”

“There is only one chief of Billnyang, and that is me, Chief Christopher Philip Ladu and this Tombe I don’t know him completely.”

This is the second time the chief has complained of people claiming to be chiefs of the area.

Mid-last month, Chief Ladu said a group of armed people forged a document claiming they were the chiefs of the area and started distributing the land.

He said the armed officers threatened to deal with anyone who obstructs their activities.

Early this year, the Central Equatoria State governor said land grabbing is one of the major security concerns facing Juba and the surrounding areas.

In 2021, President Salva Kiir constituted a 12-member committee tasked to investigate the Garbo village incident and address the issue of rampant land grabbing around Juba City.

But there has been no end to land-grabbing activities in the county.