The archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Paul Pitia confirmed that at least four people were reportedly killed and seven others injured by suspected armed cattle keepers in Lainya County.
He said that a group of armed cattle herders suspected to be from Jonglei State opened fire randomly in the market and shot four people dead.
“We (the church) are condemning the killing of the innocent in the county. We call on the president to intervene and order the return of the cattle to their places of origin,” Archbishop Pitia said.
“We need total peace and stability for the development of the country and for the return of the refugees home,” he added.
The clergy said the army intervened and rescued the situation in the market, adding that seven of those wounded are in the hospital receiving treatment.
He stressed the need for communities to embrace peace and unity for a better coexistence in the country.
The cleric appealed to President Salva Kiir and the governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil, to enforce the order for the return of the cattle to their places of origin.
It should be recalled that last month, the president reissued the decree for the immediate return of the cattle to their place of origin after the killing of 27 people in Kajo Keji.
