Authorities in Eastern Lakes State said they apprehended two wounded men accused of killing a herder and raiding cattle in Paloc County of Western Lakes State on Saturday.

The Ger County commissioner, Michael Mayor Malak told Radio Tamazuj that the team, which raided cattle in Paloc County, was a joint group of cattle raiders of Eastern Lakes and Western Lakes States who do cattle exchange between the two states.

“They raided 24 cows and killed one person who was the cattle owner,” Malak said.

He added, “Two of the raiders were wounded during the clashes and have been apprehended by Eastern Lakes State authorities”.

Malak said the suspects would be investigated and taken to court, pointing out that the relevant authorities have embarked on searching for the 24 cows taken by raiders.

He also accused some armed youth from Western Lakes State of ambushing travellers along the road to Eastern Lakes State. Malak said security forces were deployed to control the security situation.

The local official urged armed youth to halt practices of cattle raiding in the two neighboring states.

Cattle are a main source of wealth for many communities. Cattle raids and revenge attacks have claimed several lives since South Sudan’s independence in 2011.