58-year-old woman beaten to death at farm on Juba outskirts; herders suspected

A 58-year-old woman has allegedly been killed by suspected herders in Wangara, also known as Jebel Lemon Residential Area, in Billinyang Boma of Juba County, according to her family.

The woman, identified as Emelia Abau, was allegedly attacked and beaten after she went to her farm yesterday morning, according to her husband, James Ziko.

Ziko, an army captain, says his wife went to the farm accompanied by their daughter, who later left her mother there while she transported charcoal.

He says that when his daughter returned to collect a third load of charcoal, she found her mother dead and beaten.

Ziko says his daughter also encountered a man believed to be responsible for the attack, but the suspected herder fled after seeing her.

“At the time, I had gone to a school. When my daughter brought the charcoal for the second time, I was already at home. When she went for the third time, she found her mother dead and beaten. She also found the perpetrator, who fled the scene upon seeing her.”

Ziko said the woman’s body was brought to Juba at around 9 p.m. last night for burial.

“The woman’s body has been brought to Juba for burial,” Captain James Ziko explained.

Ziko said his military unit had instructed its personnel not to confront or enter the cattle camp where the suspect was believed to have fled.

He said authorities were expected to search for the suspect and ask the camp leader to hand him over to the authorities.

A local leader in the Jebel Lemon Residential Area of Wangara, speaking on behalf of the area’s communities, confirmed the incident and said the search for the suspect was underway.

The family alleges that the attack was carried out by herders. However, authorities had not publicly provided further details about the incident or confirmed the identity of the suspected attacker at the time of reporting.