A senior boma administrator in Bahr el Gel Payam in Wulu County, identified as Ruben Baronga Nudo, was killed by armed criminals suspected to have come from neighboring Cueibet County in Lakes State over the weekend.
Johnson Malap, a youth representative in Wulu County, told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that Baronga was killed 15 miles away from Wulu County while on his way back from Wulu County to Makhor Boma on Saturday afternoon.
“We have land disputes in Bahr el Gel Payam between the Beli Community of Wulu County and Gok Community of Cueibet County, and this issue might be the cause of his murder by the armed criminals from neighboring Cueibet County,” he explained. “The Gok Community claims ownership of Bahr el Gel Payam, yet it belongs to the Beli Community of Wulu County, and the Government of Lakes State has not resolved the issue.”
According to Malap, the deceased and a survivor were traveling to Makhor Boma when they were ambushed.
“As we speak, Bahr el Gel Payam is empty because of killing and fighting between the Beli and Gok communities, which has been going on for all these years with no government intervention,” he said. “The government should deploy security forces in the area to restore calm between the two communities.”
According to Malap, the Gok Community of Cueibet has renamed the disputed Payam Ngap, yet its official name is Bahr el Gel, and it belongs to the Beli Community of Wulu County.
Meanwhile, Daniel Laat Kon, a civil society activist in Lakes State, confirmed the killing of the boma administrator but said the perpetrators are not known.
“I received the information from sources in Wulu County that the administrator was shot dead by a group of six people who were unidentified because they fled,” he stated.
Laat said rampant insecurity across Lakes State has resumed and is on the rise, and that people living along the highways in remote areas are often robbed at night by criminals.
Attempts to reach Lakes State Acting Information Minister William Koji Kerjok for comment over the murder were futile as he did not answer his phone.