Calm returns to Joppa after two killed in land-grabbing mayhem

JUBA – Authorities say calm has returned to Joppa Two, a residential settlement in Juba County, after deadly clashes linked to land grabbing left at least two people dead and several others injured over the weekend.

In a statement issued Sunday, the Office of the Commissioner said state security organs swiftly intervened to contain the unrest and restore order in the troubled neighbourhood located in Luri Payam, on the outskirts of Juba.

The State Advisor on Security and Peace, Angelo Daya, warned residents against taking part in illegal land activities that have repeatedly fueled tension in the area.

“The State Advisor on Security and Peace has issued a strong warning to residents of Joppa Two to avoid involvement in land-grabbing activities that have caused insecurity in the area,” the statement said.

Daya cautioned individuals “claiming to be chiefs and illegally demarcating land” that they would face “immediate arrest and legal action,” stressing that “there is no authorised land demarcation in any part of Central Equatoria State.” He urged the public to cooperate with security authorities to maintain peace and order.

Police leadership confirmed that the situation is now under control. Lt. Gen. Andrea Martin Hassen, the Assistant Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police in the state, said security forces “successfully managed to curb the situation,” adding that “the security situation in Joppa Two is now calm.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Juba County, Emmanuel Tete Ezbon, dismissed claims circulating from opposition quarters about the cause of the violence.

“He clarified that claims by SPLM/A-IO regarding the incident are baseless,” the statement noted, emphasising that the unrest “was caused by land grabbers in the area, which regrettably led to the loss of two lives and injuries to others.”

Joppa has long struggled with disputes over plots and rapid, informal development. The neighbourhood has seen recurring cases of illegal allocations and self-appointed brokers marking land without authorisation. In July last year, former governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel suspended all land demarcation and allotment along Road-40 in Joppa to address irregularities and ease community tensions.

Local authorities say patrols have been intensified and investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible for the recent violence. Residents have been urged to channel land concerns through official government structures rather than informal actors.

Officials expressed hope that the restored calm will hold, warning that anyone attempting to exploit the situation for illegal land claims will face prosecution.