A motorcyclist was murdered and two others were wounded in an ambush on the Torit-Kapoeta route.

On Thursday, a motorcyclist was killed, two other riders were wounded, and their motorbike was stolen by gunmen who attacked them in Idolu village on the Torit-Hiyala-Kapoeta route in Eastern Equatoria State.

According to local officials, the incident is the result of a cycle of violence between the Hiyala and Hoforiere villages, who have been laying counter-ambushes along the route.

The villages of Hiyala Payam convened last week to de-escalate tensions after a slew of retaliatory murders and ambushes, but the meeting ended suddenly in turmoil and indiscriminate gunfire.

Galileo Ohide, the paramount chief of Hiyala Payam, explained on Friday that the turmoil is being caused by youngsters from the nearby towns of Hiyala and Haforiere.

“One individual from Lalanga was slain while riding a motorbike along the route between Idolu and Haforiere at an area called Kasara Benzin, and his motorcycle was stolen,” he added.

“This occurred when the youth of Hiyala built up a blockade between Tirangore and Hiyala, and the people of Haforiere also set up a barricade in Idolu between Tirangore and Haforiere.”

“At checkpoints, belligerent teenagers halt automobiles and motorbikes to look for persons from the other village,” Chief Ohide said.

Meanwhile, Torit County Commissioner Jacob Atari Albano acknowledged the occurrence and said that the local authorities in Haforiere had been entrusted with apprehending individuals responsible for the ambush.

“This (ambush) event occurred yesterday (Friday) about 1 p.m., according to individuals who were hurt.”

They said they were traveling from Lalanga to Torit when they encountered someone who opened fire on them, killing one person instantaneously and wounded two others,” he added.

“The wounded, Okiki Omer and Wilson Kamau, are now receiving treatment at Torit State Hospital.” Okong Patricio was assassinated.”

“I instructed the Monyio-miji of Haforiere to catch the offenders before the government takes action since the ambush occurred in their land and they are the major suspects,” Atari continued.

Changa Thomas Oker, a doctor at Torit State Hospital, said one of the wounded victims was healing well, while the other was being transported to Juba Teaching Hospital for an X-ray.

“One was shot in the right hand and his humerus is entirely fractured, but he is stable,” he stated. “The other was hit in the left hand and has tissue damage.” “Both are in fine shape, but we’re only sending the one with a fractured bone to Juba since we don’t have an X-ray machine here in Torit.”