Suspended SPLM-IO Minister Accused of Disappearing with Government Vehicle
Elia John Ahaji, the State Minister of Information, said the state minister has not been seen along with the vehicle since his suspension.
By Theophilous Ochang
The Eastern Equatoria State government has accused the suspended State Minister of Peace Building, Hon. Marko Lokidor Lochapiu, of vanishing with a government vehicle bearing the registration number RSS EEG 143A.
In a statement released on Saturday, State Minister of Information Elia John Ahaji announced that the minister has not been seen since his suspension and is believed to have taken the official vehicle with him.
“The Government of Eastern Equatoria State would like to inform the public that the Minister of Peace Building, Hon. Marko Lokidor Lochapiu, has disappeared along with a government vehicle,” the statement read.
According to preliminary, yet unconfirmed reports, the vehicle is suspected to have crossed the border and been sold in neighboring Uganda. Authorities further allege that the former minister left the state on a motorcycle, possibly to avoid detection, and is believed to be heading toward a neighboring country.
In response, the state government has launched a formal investigation and is urging the public to provide any information that could assist in locating both the missing vehicle and the former official.
Hon. Lokidor, who also served as the SPLM-IO State Secretary General, was suspended on June 23, 2025, alongside three other state ministers: Ochola Bosco Oringa (Agriculture), Sammy Apperangole (Education), and Luka Charles Jarkarlo (Housing, Land, and Public Utilities). Additionally, three Members of Parliament—Vitali Ofire, Mary Juwa William, and Visor Likali Olum—were also suspended. All seven individuals held their positions under the SPLM-IO ticket.
The SPLM/A-IO interim chairman, Stephen Pal Kuol, accused the group of engaging in activities aimed at undermining the interim leadership of the party, which has experienced internal divisions and growing mistrust in recent months.
The alleged disappearance of a government vehicle by a suspended official underscores ongoing concerns about the management and accountability of public resources. Government assets—including vehicles—are not private property and must be protected from misuse, especially during periods of political instability. The loss of such assets not only reflects negatively on governance but also deprives public institutions of critical tools needed to serve citizens effectively.
As the investigation unfolds, public trust in the stewardship of government property—and in those entrusted with leadership—hangs in the balance.
