At least 16 people were killed and eight others injured when armed youth suspected to be from Abyei and Unity State attacked a cattle camp in Warrap State’s Twic County on Saturday, authorities said.
The armed youth raided the Warayiu cattle camp in Turalei Payam of Twic County at 10 am on Friday, Twic County’s acting commissioner Mangok Kom told Radio Tamazuj on Saturday.
“Armed youth from Abyei who were backed by youth from Unity state attacked Warayiu cattle camp and raided over 900 cattle and when youth ran after them, the attackers ambushed them and killed 15 youth and one woman. They also injured eight youths who are now admitted to the MSF site in Mayen Abun and some will be flown to Wau today,” he said.
Kom revealed that about 600 cows were recovered and many people were displaced by the attack.
“Twic is exposed to militias some come from Bentiu, Ruweng Administrative Area, Abyei even those from Nuba Mountains, and our people have no choice they are killed even the yesterday’s incident caused displacement,” he lamented.
The acting commissioner said no forces were sent to the area to prevent further attacks and protect the people but that he had informed the governor.
Warrap State’s information minister William Wol Mayom confirmed the incident and said the state government will investigate those behind the attack.
“We don’t know who the attackers are but the area under attack is bordering both Abyei and Unity State. Investigations will be carried out and peace will prevail in both Twic and Abyei,” he said.
For his part, Kuol Chan, the acting commissioner of Abyei’s Alal county claimed youth from Abyei were not involved in that attack.
“There is no information like that. None of our youths moved to Twic County even UN troops were in Kilo 130 waiting for their trucks which came from Wunrock yesterday. So, I don’t have any information like that,” he said.
Kelek Kon, Abyei Area security advisor said that he was aware of the attack but did not have sufficient information on what happened.