Three killed in suspected LRA attack in Western Equatoria

October 17, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Three members of the same family have been brutally murdered in what police suspect to be Lord Resistant Army serial killings in Western Equatoria State town of Maridi.

Increasing insecurity in Western equatorial State last August triggered the WFP to stop its humanitarian activities in some parts of the state. The LRA rebels attacked last Wednesday a village in Yambio and killed two people there.

Police in Maridi discovered three female bodies of one family while a fourth family member is missing and feared dead or abducted.

Surur Ali, a community leader currently visiting Khartoum, said he was shocked this morning when he received information of the missing of the three of his close relatives who are reported to have gone visiting relatives outside Maridi town on Thursday but never returned.

He said police were informed of the missing on Wednesday and immediately launched investigations.

Ali said police were tipped of three bodies which were found with missing body parts after they were murdered in unknown circumstances.

“The bodies of the deceased were found partly buried with head exposed,” he said adding that one of the bodies was found with arm cut-off and buried on top of the other.

“Reports from Maridi now say that Police found clothes at the crime scene and the bodies of the deceased lying just in the middle of the road between Mambe and Maridi,” he further said

He said police will not rest until the perpetrators of this crime are brought to book, adding that police intensified the search for culprits and requested members of the public to help.

Surur said there were rumors that elements allegedly believed to be members of the LRA were found between Ibba County and Maridi in the night before incident by local hunters who reported to the county authorities.

However, the county authority did not quickly respond to send in security forces till after incident, he said adding LRA presence in the area affects local movements at the evenings and early morning.

People traveling to Yambio or in any area in the Western Equatoria now plans their travels during mid day because of the fear of attack by LRA, he concluded.

(ST)