By Benjamin Unyang Ukongo,
September 12, 2024(Nyamilepedia) — In April 1986 the Päri people were planting in their farms with excitement because Tingili/Kazuk battalion had captured Lafon and station there. They were only 200 soldiers, Pari’s sons who have sacrificed as a result of mistreatment of Jaafar Nimeri regime which was so disturbing and alarming in Lafon .Because of their braveness they dominated the whole of Tingili/Kazuk battalion. After graduation from SPLA/SPLM unified training batch four in January 1986.
I personally would like to salute the fallen heroes who made me know ABCD and enabled me to be where I am today, because of their blood. The Nimeri were not happy about Lafon falling into the hands of the SPLM at that time. It was broadcast all over Sudan on different radio stations- Radio Juba, radio Oduruman that SPLM had captured Lafon in Eastern Region. The Nimeri regime sent a convey from Torit to Lafon to fight with Tingili in Lafon. There was a narrative circulating in Torit and Juba that Tingili number were only 605 but they were 612 all after the graduation from military camp called Bongo. The Nimeri regime left for Torit with a lot of military artilleries, soldiers and Lorries for logistics as well. After reaching a place called Iwaga where Jo-pari farms were. God performed a miracles, there was a man called Achakwak from Lafon ,Pugeri village Tungu ;kwiri clan and madan generation. His farm was near re-container Jara. He decided to run to Lafon Centre and informed the Tingili/Kazuk/ Angoriwe. When he met with my mother, Cacilia Nyimuri between re-container and Wilikuju, he was breathing as fast as his heart would allow him. He said, to my mother, mom Unyang, the Nimeri regime are behind me! get off the main road and go into the bush. He also mentioned something very important to my mother that she should go right and not left. My mother followed his directive and turned to the direction he said, Pudhinyipugeri. She saw Achakwak continued running to Lafon Centre to inform the men Tingili Angoriwe. However, my mother then went to the bush until she was excited to go to Yamiru Bura’s forest.
When Achakwak arrived in Lafon Centre or Thikidi, he went straight to the Tingili base. God was with Tingili, the platoon who left Kilieu HQs with Cdr Galario Modi. They were purely Wati-pari headed by Lt. Geremano Ukech Amoth who had arrived that day in Lafon. They hadn’t even gone to their households. They were still at the assembly point when Achakwak reached them with the report that the Nimeri regime forces were coming. He said he left the vehicles at Iwaga – Jara farms. Immediately, the whistle was blown and Ikodi triumphed over Nyiliach. They all gathered together and started the journey to ambush the Nimeri regime at a place called Ewaaro/Nyitaadi. The Nimeri regimes’ vehicles were on road, the veteran Anyanga who carried an RVG was told to aim at the driver of Dababa (Ulik) was in front, it was shot sideways followed by the Ak-47s known as Kalany-G-kops. A heavy fight erupted and the Nimeri regimes were defeated and twelve of their vehicles were captured and burned by Tingili on the spot. Tingili only left Dababa (Ulik) and they drove it to the Lafon Centre with a lot of morale accompanied by the songs.Â
Jo-pari were told not to go to the farms because there could be wounded Nimeri regime soldiers in bushes, but two people lost their lives, one from Watuo village called Teego was shot and died on the spot during the operation . And one from Kor village called Licere went to the farm the following morning after the fight. Unfortunately, he was shot by a wounded Nimeri regime soldier and died. He was the only person who died in that operation at Ewaaro/Nyitaadi. There were some Comrades who were wounded during the operation among the Tingili battalion namely, Anyanga who was wounded in the leg, along with Jang and Abaladhori /Ulwala, just to mention a few. Tingili used the Dababa for some time but they decided to burn it at a place called Ricwanatholangiri because they didn’t want Arabs to recapture it. There were also technical aspects.
The writer can be reached via E-mail benjaminukongo@gmail.com
