At least six people from Itula Sub County in Moyo district have been hospitalized after they were hacked using machetes by a group of Aringa youths from Yumbe over a border conflict in Kali area.
This happened at around 03:00am on Saturday when the group armed with machetes, bows and arrows, spears and an AK 47 rifle, stormed the place and took settlers there unaware.
But as some of the settlers became resistant, the angry residents from Yumbe ordered them to collect their belongings as they hacked some of them. The attackers also robbed properties including two motorcycles, unknown number of bicycles and other personal belongings such as phones and food items.
Kali area that is located at the border of Yumbe and Moyo districts has been a center of contention since Sudanese refugees, who were settled there, were repatriated back home by United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
Moyo district secretary for security, Andrew Kajoing, says when they were informed about the incident he alerted the police and army and visited the scene only to find the six residents lying injured. He says the area that is now being claimed by residents from Yumbe had originally been occupied by Madi who came from Moyo before the district gave the land to the Sudanese refugees in early 1990s.
He says the border conflict between the two districts has become too big problem for the district authorities to handle. He calls on government to intervene and address it.
Josephine Angucia, the police spokesperson for West Nile, said no suspect has been arrested by the police, saying that the police arrived when the attackers had already gone.
However, some of the Yumbe district leaders led by the LC 5 chairperson, Yasin Taban, were denied knowledge of the attack and noted that if something like that happened there is need for dialogue. This is not the first time people from Yumbe have invaded Moyo district especially Itula Sub County.
Early this year, a group of Aringa youths from Ariwa Sub County in Yumbe district also invaded some parts of Itula and attacked people there settled there. In the violence that ensued, 40 people were arrested but later released. Ends
