Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Local Government Peter Lokeng Lotone has confirmed that one man was shot dead while another sustained gunshot injuries when Toposa youth from Kapoeta South County’s Namorinyang area clashed with Didinga youth from Ngauro in Budi County on Tuesday.

The incident happened just two days after armed youths suspected to be from Ngauro Payam went to a grazing ground and indiscriminately shot and killed 30 head of cattle and wounded two boys.

Minister Lokeng who was addressing a joint press conference on Wednesday with the state information minister and government spokesperson, Elia John Ahaji, said armed Didinga youth initiated the attack.

“On 19 April, Didinga youth from Ngauro Payam raided Toposa cattle which were grazing on the Naguro side and they exchanged gunfire and the Toposa youth were able to recover their cattle with no casualty reported from both sides. The following morning on 20 April, the same group from Ngauro Payam mobilized themselves and attacked the same Toposa who were grazing their cattle and randomly shot at and killed 30 head of cattle and wounded two boys,” he narrated. “The dead cows were skinned by locals and the meat was taken to Ngauro town for consumption. However, information from the Budi County commissioner states that only 10 heads of cattle were shot dead according to his community report.”

Minister Lokeng added: “On 23 April, three kraals of cattle of the Toposa from Namurunyang were raided by the same people of Ngauro, and one person was shot dead while another one was wounded.”

He said the state government condemns such criminal acts, will not tolerate criminality, and will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

On his part, Information Minister Ahaji expressed dismay over the incident but said calm had been restored and the state was safe.

“We are working very hard with community leaders and law enforcement agencies to ensure we end rustling and cattle thefts. I appeal to the youth to embrace farming since it is the cultivation season,” he said. “They should also engage in community policing because these issues could have been resolved if information was beforehand.”

“Our community policing is very weak and people do not want to take responsibility for their security and always blame the government,” Minister Ahaji added.

He said that many times youth shot and kill people during social gatherings and said suck actions can and should be checked by the community.

Repeated attempts to reach Budi County authorities for comment were futile.