At least 20 civilians were killed in an attack carried by pastoralists on Roc Roc Dong area in Jur River County in South Sudan’s Wau State between 20 to 26 January, a parliamentarian representing the area said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday, Dominic Atem, member of Wau state assembly, blamed the incident on herders from neighbouring Warrap, saying the attackers burned several houses and displaced a large number of local residents.

He further said the herders killed three civilians between 20 to 21 January after their cows were allegedly raided by rebels.

The lawmaker voiced concerns over rampant insecurity in the area. He accused the pastoralists of killing women and children in the area. Atem said that at least 11 people were killed and several houses burned on 27 January, forcing families to flee from the area.

He pointed out that the total number of civilians killed in the area reached at least 20. Atem noted that the state government had dispatched a security force to the area, but the security situation remained tense.

The state minister of information had confirmed the incident, but he did give more details about what happened in the area.