The commissioner of Central Equatoria State’s Terekeka County on Friday said 15 suspects have been apprehended in connection with the deadly inter-communal clashes between the Yari and Kogi communities that left at least 32 people dead in the Yari area on Wednesday.
According to Emmanuel Loku, armed attackers from the Kogi community allegedly launched an assault on Yari residents, resulting in heavy casualties.
“On 18 February, the Kogi attacked the Yari community in the Yari area, killing 32 people and injuring 23 others,” he stated, confirming the scale of the tragedy.
Local authorities described the incident as one of the deadliest outbreaks of communal violence in the area in recent months, raising concerns about security and stability in parts of Central Equatoria State.
Commissioner Loku said the state government responded swiftly by deploying security forces to contain the situation and restore calm.
“The state government has deployed forces to Terekeka, and almost 15 suspects linked to the incident have been arrested. They will be brought to book in accordance with the law,” he said.
The police said investigations are ongoing, and additional arrests may follow as efforts continue to prevent further violence and promote reconciliation between the affected communities.
State officials have urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as measures are intensified to maintain peace and prevent retaliatory attacks.