The lawmaker said the insecurity along the Lafon, Mogiri-Juba Road is rampant and traumatic as children disappear and people lose lives along the highways.    

By Theophilous Ochang

A lawmaker representing Lafon County in the Eastern Equatoria State Assembly, Visor Likali has called for joint cooperation to end the insecurity along the Mogiri-Juba Road.

This comes just days after over 20 residents of Lafon County who were on their way bringing their goods to Juba were looted by unknown gunmen along the road.

The incident led to the disappearance of three people, including a lactating mother, but the three were later recovered.

Addressing journalists in Torit on Tuesday, Likali said the insecurity along the Lafon, Mogiri-Juba Road is rampant and traumatic as children disappear and people lose lives along the highways.

“The road has become traumatic. Every year, you find children disappearing, people losing their lives and nobody is taking this seriously.”

The lawmaker called on the Pibor cattle traders to concentrate on the cattle business but not to trade in human beings.

“If you are cattle traders, don’t mix cattle trade with the humans. These human beings have their setup. They are important in their locations,” he said.

“If you are trading in cattle, concentrate on cattle. I also want to address the charcoal burners along that road; that when you are dealing with charcoal, don’t mix it with criminal activities because your purpose there is to do business,” Likali warned.

He urged Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, and Pibor governments to come together to join forces and curb crimes along the troubled Mogiri-Juba Road.

In July last year, one traveler was killed while his counterpart survived unhurt after gunmen attacked them along the Lafon-Mogiri.

According to authorities, the victims were traveling from Eastern Equatoria State’s Lafon County to Central Equatoria’s Juba through Mogiri for shopping.

Leaders appealed to the leadership in Eastern and Central Equatoria states to work together to establish barracks along the Lafon-Mogiri Road to check banditry.

“The two gentlemen left Lafon for Juba but unfortunately the road was not safe and they met unidentified gunmen who shot and killed one of them on the spot while the other one escaped unharmed and ran up to Mogiri where he found some rescue,” said Hon.  Likale during the past interview.

“If you are trading in cattle, concentrate on cattle. I also want to address the charcoal burners along that road; that when you are dealing with charcoal, don’t mix it with criminal activities because your purpose there is to do business,” Visor Likali, Lafon County MP.