The authorities in Warrap and Lakes states have said 10 people were killed and 19 others wounded on Monday following an attack on a cattle camp in Tonj East County in Warrap State.
Seven people were reportedly killed and thirteen others wounded from the side of Warrap State while on the side of Lakes State, three people were killed and six wounded.
Warrap State Information Minister William Wol Mayom told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that the raid in which 570 head of cattle were rustled is suspected to have been orchestrated by armed youth from the Pakam section in neighboring Lakes State.
“Seven people have been confirmed dead, 13 wounded and 570 cattle raided from the three cattle camps of Beech, Aroldok, and Malek in a swampy area of Luacjang in Tonj East County where herders graze their animals in the dry season,” he said. “The suspects are armed youth from the Maper area of Rumbek North. They attacked the cattle camps around 10 am on 17 April. The Tonj East County commissioner was informed in the late hours of Monday by authorities in Rumbek North that armed youth from Maper left at night in large numbers to loot cattle.”
According to Minister Wol, officials from the neighboring states have been collaborating to hold community peace dialogues to end the cyclic cattle raids and killings. He urged the Lakes State government to apprehend the culprits and return all stolen cattle to their rightful owners.
Meanwhile, the police Inspector of Rumbek North County, Col. Abraham Nak, confirmed the incident and said three people were killed and 6 wounded on the side of the armed youth in Rumbek North.
“The armed youth, both dead and alive, are still in the forests and we are making arrangements because fighting is continuing,” he said. “From here three are confirmed dead and the six wounded are receiving treatment at the hospital.”
Col. Abraham said some of the cattle which were raided before this latest incident have been identified, retrieved from the raiders, and will be handed over to their rightful owners in Tonj East.
“We have raided cattle in our territory, the cows which were raided last time,” he said. “We have collected many of them and will hand them over to the owners.”
The police officer urged the authorities in the two states to speed up the process of establishing mobile courts to try suspected rustlers.
Last month, at least 151 people were reportedly killed in the same area of Luacjang and Rumbek North.