Local authorities in Warrap and Unity States on Sunday returned 140 raided head of cattle from Mayom and Gogrial East counties.
On 13 April, armed youth from Mayom County in Unity State raided over 500 cattle from Gogrial East County’s Ameth cattle camp. Authorities in Mayom County managed to return 150 cattle to Gogrial East County. In revenge, armed youth from Gogrial East County went to Mayom and raided 204 head of cattle according to officials.
Maluach Malueth, the Gogrial East County commissioner, said the exchange of cattle was made at Gam-dhang village and appreciated the good relations at the border.
“What happened was that the cattle were swapped at Gamdhan village in Mayen-Jur Boma at 12 pm (Sunday). We gave Mayom authorities 75 cattle and we have received 65 from them. 204 head of cattle were raided by my people from Mayom County and armed youth of Mayom raided 506 cattle from my people and they returned 150 cattle,” Commissioner Malueth said.
“According to our mutual agreement, Mayom authorities will continue collecting the missing cattle and we are doing the same thing in Gogrial East County by tracing the missing cattle,” he added. “The strategy we use is that we take the cattle of those criminals until they bring the raided cattle. We arrest some youth, even now four suspected youth are arrested and some of their cattle were taken yesterday to Mayom County.”
Commissioner Malueth said the security situation in the state is fine and that the authorities will continue fighting cattle rustling.
Gadet Gany Madut, the Mayom County executive director, confirmed the return of stolen cattle.
“The relations between Unity and Warrap states are good because we have exchanged cattle that were raided by youth from both sides at Mayen-Jur. We received 75 head of cattle and we gave Gogrial East 65,” he said. “For the raiding to stop, we formed a committee comprised of chiefs, security personnel, and administrators to deal with criminals who go to Warrap State to raid cows.”