March 27, 2009 (LONDON) — Forces of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) killed two motorcyclists in an ambush in Ezo County on Wednesday, according to the Zande community world-wide Organisation head office in London.
The two slain friends were said to be riding from Andari towards Biki stream when they were shot by LRA gunmen hiding in the bushes. The bullets hit the two knocking them off their motorbike, whereupon the LRA rushed to take their possessions while placing the bodies of the fallen friends beneath the motorbike and setting it alight.
According to Charles Kisanga, chairman of the Zande (Azanda) organization and leader of the new SPLM/A Patriotic Organisation which advocates for change in SPLM, the LRA left the bodies under the burning motorbike on the road before they fled.
One of those who died, according to surviving family, is Batista Barnaba. His companion also from Ezo is yet to be named.
In the past month there has been continuous reported sightings of LRA in many parts of Western Equatoria and recently there were reports of them appearing in Sakure Payam not far from Yambio, while their presence has not been reported extensively in Ezo.
Two weeks ago self defence groups in Western Equatoria hunted down an LRA camp in Andari which they destroyed, killing three LRA while others of the guerrillas escaped the foray and attacked a village nearby killing 12 people.
“Even with concerted efforts by the Self Defence groups to keep LRA far away from villages, the elusive LRA are always hiding in the forests ready to spring on innocent victims any time they get a chance,” said Kisanga.
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable because unlike a car which may carry police escort and offer some protection, many motorcyclists travel alone or with only one passenger for their small businesses, such as taxi hire or carrying small loads of goods, noted Kisanga.
Kisanga and the leaders of the London office called on youth in the state to take extra precaution if they want to travel by motorbike in the remote areas of Western Equatoria from Maridi up to Ambura and towards the boarder areas of DR Congo and Central African Republic.
Groups of LRA had fled into Southern Sudan following joint operations against their bases in Garamba National Park in DR Congo. They are pursued by the armed forces of three countries—Uganda, Sudan and DR Congo, and by self-defence groups sometimes labelled as “Arrow Boys.”
(ST)
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