A man Arrested Over Illegal Cattle Transportation In EES A man was arrested yesterday at Pageri Payam of Eastern Eqquatoria State, by security personnel after being charged with fraud over illegal transportation of cattle destined for Nimule in Magwi County, a spot check by Gurtong has confirmed. 15 July 2011 A man Arrested Over Illegal Cattle Transportation In EES Major Angelo Saverio Ochang briefing the press at the Pageri police post [©Gurtong]
By Peter Lokale Nakimangole TORIT, 15th July 2011 (Gurtong) – A man was arrested yesterday at Pageri Payam of Eastern Eqquatoria State, by security personnel after being charged with fraud over illegal transportation of cattle destined for Nimule in Magwi County, a spot check by Gurtong has confirmed. The arrest of one middle aged man identified as Gabriel Maria, followed a thorough investigation carried out at Pageri police post by a Police CID officer, Major Angelo Saverio Ochang who led a team of security personnel after their departure from Torit on Wednesday. The police followed the culprits based on a credible tipoff in Pageri to stop the illegal transportation of cattle destined for Nimule Payam of Magwi County. According to an officer in charge of Pageri post, Richard Vincent Benson, two identical vehicles currently under police custody with the cattle, bearing registration numbers EE 637A and EE 624A respectively were heading to Nimule each carrying 16 cattle were spotted by the Pageri residents near a roundabout at around 12.00am Tuesday night. Following a closed door investigation at Pageri police post by the team of the security personnel, Major Saverio told the press that the culprit, who fired 4 bullets from a pistol while threatening onlookers at the time when the Pageri residents alerted the local Authority. An eyewitness, Lagu Jabakana who is also Madi Community's Deputy Chairperson explained that after the police managed to stop the cattle from proceeding to Nimule, the alleged criminal Marial who accompanied the transported cattle driving his small car, started threatening the residents as he hurriedly shot 4 bullets but fortunately no one was seriously wounded. The two vehicles had 6 people on board, Marial inclusive. Marial, claimed that the cattle were taken from Owinkibul training centre for a marriage ceremony for his brother, John Mabior in Nimule. However, the findings according to Major Saverio disproved the claim that the cattle were meant for marriage as there were no evidence from Nimule about any marriage arrangements. Upon arrival of Media crew ahead of State investigation team at the scene, efforts to talk to the apprehended Gabriel Marial failed as he refused to make comments to the press over the matter. Also, at the scene were two honorable members; Florence Nighty Otto and Aventore Kenyi Bilal who protested as to why cattle were being transported into Nimule despite a recent agreement that no more cattle should enter the area but instead they should be repatriated back home in Jonglei State. Hon. Bilal told the media that unlike two months ago where the numbers of cattle stood at 4,000 herds, more than 10,000 herds of cattle from Jonglei have now penetrated into Madi region. Bilal cited that last week alone, over 1,500 cattle were also offloaded between Aswa and Jelei while Mr. Jabakana, the Madi Community Deputy Chairperson who concurred with the issue revealed that about a week ago, thousands of herds of cattle crossed Pageri from nowhere heading to Mugali and Nimule. He expressed worries that this threatening number would destroy livelihoods of the communities in Eastern Equatoria State as they trespass farms. Hon. Bilal said that the Madi farmers were fed up as they have been tolerating co-existence of the herders from Jonglei. He recommended that the Government should take more drastic measures by setting up police posts to monitor movements of cattle in the area in order to prevent the matter from escalating further. Posted in: Home -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
