Juba county authorities seize construction equipment from land grabbers

(radiotamazuj.org)

Authorities in Juba County of Central Equatoria State have seized construction equipment allegedly belonging to a group of land grabbers in the Jofa area of Luri Payam.

The machines including a Bulldozer and Land Cruiser Hardtop cars were reportedly used for demarcating and allotting illegal lands in the Juba suburb.

In a statement to the media on Friday, the Commissioner of Juba County, Engineer Charles Joseph, said the arrest of the suspects in the Jofa neighbourhood was done in collaboration with local chiefs in the area.

He warned residents against the illegal acquisition of land and appealed to them to follow the right procedures in obtaining the property.

 Commissioner Joseph said the seized items will be taken to the governor's office in Juba and that investigation will be instituted.

"Whoever will come to claim the ownership of the Bulldozer and the car, we will have to take legal and tough action against him," Joseph said.

Commissioner Charles called on citizens to cooperate with the national and state government and report any incident of illegal land allotment to the authorities concerned.

A local chief in Luri Payam, Mr. Nathaniel Henry, appealed for appropriate and legal ways of acquiring land from the rightful authorities.

He accused some members of the organized forces of conniving with criminals and involvement in looting land by illegally using government equipment.

"Land grabbers have begun to use government forces and come in vehicles to demarcate lands here," he said.

"Anyone who doesn't come for land through the Payam administration is just wasting his money. We as local chiefs are the ones to write you a letter to Payam,” he added. 

There have been conflicts related to land grabbing and unlawful allotment of land in the capital Juba and other areas around Central Equatoria State.

Right groups say land-grabbing remains a security threat committed by senior army and national security generals in South Sudan.