At least 19 people were killed and 58 others injured after armed cattle rustlers attacked a cattle camp in Northern Liech State on Tuesday, a local official said.

Northern Liech’s Minister of Information Lam Tungwar Kueigwong told Radio Tamazuj this morning that heavily armed raiders attacked cattle herders in the area of Tharkuer in Bul East County.

The attackers, the minister said, had come from neighboring Tonj state.” 19 people including women and children died in the attack,” he said.

Lam offered condolences to “the families of the herders who died” in the cattle raid incident.

The state minister further said more than 1,000 cows were recovered after the gunfight. He added that the raiders made away with about 1,000 animals.

Lam urged Tonj authorities to combat rising incidents of cattle rustling.” These incidents could cause problems between the communities. We need to live in peace and harmony,” he said.

Tonj authorities were not immediately available to comment.

Cattle raids are common among pastoralist communities living in the region. Livestock herding is the main source of income in many parts of South Sudan.