A dark cloud has overshadowed Lologo following the death of a boda boda rider believed to be orchestrated by perceived armed robbers.

A man identified as Yoane Odere, aged 32, was killed on Sunday along Mauna-Custom Road on his way home for his daily routine.

Nicknamed Kimbo, the late Odere left behind two wives and three children. His second wife was newly married to Odere before he got into the tragedy.  

“It was on Sunday morning at around 9:00 am when we received the news from a neighbour that Kimbo was shot dead,” said Ayella Michael, a resident in Lologo. “We could not believe until they brought the body home. We were shocked and I could not believe he is dead.”

He said the late Kimbo had no problem with anybody in the area and he was known as a good person who does not steal or fight.

“We are really going to miss him because he was a good man who did not want to exchange words with anybody in our area here,” he said.

 James Osuru, another resident said the death of Kimbo was never seen coming as he shared lighter moments with friends and relatives a day prior.

“The death of this young man was very serious because he just moved out for his job and immediately he was announced dead. If South Sudan or Juba is like this there is no need to stay here,” said Osuru.

Danis Kenyi, one of the residents said South Sudanese, especially the boda boda riders were targeted by criminals. He said the incident was not an isolated one as many boda boda riders suffered similar fate in the past.

“Boda boda [riders] are being targeted by criminals because [almost] on a daily basis you hear a boda boda [rider] either killed or robbed by criminals. So, it is alarming and the government should do something,” said Kenyi.

Death incidents, mostly in the hands of gang criminals, have created an environment of fear where commercial motorists feel a bad fate is just within the corner.

Morris Laku, a boda boda rider said the criminals target newly purchased motorbikes. Laku ponders that most incidents were pre-coordinated.

“I think criminals have their people who buy these motorcycles because they (criminals) are targeting only the new motorcycles. We did not hear any boda boda killed having second hand motorcycles. They only target those with new motorbikes,” he said.

James Othow, one of the motorbike riders, said that the government should look for ways to protect the boda boda.

“There is nothing we can do because every day you wake up in the morning going about your business not knowing that you are going to get killed. I am appealing to the government to do something for us,” said Othow. 

 The report from the traffic office shows that over 200 boda boda lost their lives in connection with their job since last year 2020. In 2021, over 20 died both in road accidents and robberies.