Old woman flees heavy shooting in Wongleri, South of Juba City/phot credit Awan Moses

Some residents of Wongleri, South of Juba City fled heavy gunshots in the area on Thursday morning.

The area is situated a few kilometers south of Eye Radio premises.

Those fleeing, mainly women and children say a random shooting took place at around 10:00 o’clock Thursday morning.

“I actually set the fire to make tea and shortly I heard heavy gunshots, both small and big and then I left the place and started coming here,” said Asunta.

“What I heard is that the forces were taken to go and open the road going to Kajo-Keji and the second statement is land grabbers,” she added.

Another resident, Jerisa confirmed the shooting saying “I heard heavy gunshots just behind our residential area and I started running away from the area.”

She said the shooting caught them unaware. “We actually don’t know what is happening but we have heard random gunshots near our homes that is why we are fleeing the area.”

A third respondent described the shooting as too much to bear. “It was too much and most of the people had to flee the area., people are just standing along the road.”

The incident occurred half an hour after five armored Toyota Land cruisers were seen passing by Eye Radio.

Several calls to the Deputy Police Spokesperson, James Dak, and Central Equatoria State Local Governance Minister, Moro Genesio to inquire about the shootouts went unanswered.

The motive of the shooting is unclear. But the area has had disputes related to land grabbing.