At least 10 people were killed and 12 others sustained gunshot wounds during a cattle raid in kapoeta North County of South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State on Wednesday.
Officials say about 15,000 cattle were stolen by raiders suspected to be from parts of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, and Lafon and Budi counties of Eastern Equatoria State.
Kapoeta North County Commissioner Emmanuel Ephone Lolimo told Radio Tamazuj that the raiders attacked kraals in Najie and Chumakori payams at 5 am on Wednesday.
“This raid was jointly organized by the Tennet, Murle and the Buya and we have full evidence. A huge number of cattle has been taken belonging to the two payams, an estimate of 15,000. We lost 10 youths during the clash and we brought to the health facility 12 injured youths,” commissioner Lolimo said.
He said the matter will be discussed with authorities in GPAA and called on the raiders to return the stolen cattle.
“For peace to prevail, we want these cattle to be returned to the owners and also, we want the Tennet community to desist collaborating with the Murle as well the Buya because if we react as a community it will not be good for them,” he warned.
Eastern Equatoria State Legislative Assembly speaker Severino Maira Janus who hails from the Tennet community of Lafon County confirmed the raid and urges his community members to desist from such activities as they threaten peaceful coexistence.
“Well I have heard about it, the raid took place and I heard that many people lost lives. It is something very unfortunate to see people die. We want our people to stop cattle raiding, revenge killings all these things we wanted them to stop,” he appealed.
Charles Onen Lokwaruk, the chairperson for the Civil Society Network in Eastern Equatoria State condemned the killings and called on the govenrmnet to secure the lives of citizens.
GPAA officials were not immediately available for comment.