S. Sudan police beef up security as 12 people are killed

February 26, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s police said it intensified its patrol movements in Central Equatoria state following the killing of 12 people, including a soldier, in Lainya along the Juba-Yei highway.

Police spokesperson, Col. James Monday told reporters that security situation along Juba-Lainya-Yei was improved with more police forces deployed to patrol the road.

“Everything has been put under control now. More and more police forces are patrolling the road. There is no more fighting. The road is now fully secured and vehicles are moving normally”, he said on Thursday.

He attributed the cause of the deaths to misunderstandings between two cattle keeping communities, without elaborating further.

Juba county commissioner, Stephen Wani said fighting started on Tuesday and continued to Wednesday when reinforcement was sent to separate the warring sides.

“Actually, the total number of people killed, according to the reports we have received from the local people were 11,” he said, adding “This number increased to 12 when the body of a soldier was found,”.

Central Equatoria’s information minister, Samuel Suba said the situation was now calm.

(ST)