At least 24 people including women and children were killed and 15 others wounded when a suspected armed group attacked a cattle camp in Ngop County in South Sudan’s Eastern Lakes State on Sunday, according to a lawmaker.
The incident happened in Panhom Toor cattle camp.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Marial Amum, Head of Information Committee in the Eastern Lakes State Assembly, said at least 13 herders were killed, 15 others wounded and over 100 heads of cattle also killed in the attack.
“At around 4:00 am, a rebel group came from Amadi State on Sunday and launched a heavy attack using RPG 7 and other artilleries on a cattle camp. So, the incident led to the death 13 people and among them were two women, nine Children and one hundred cows also confirmed dead during the fighting at Panhom Toor cattle camp,” said Amum.
The Eastern Lakes parliamentarian further said at least 11 people were also killed on the side of cattle raiders, claiming that the perpetrators were identified as SPLA- IO rebels from Amadi State.
Amum pointed out that the 15 wounded people from herders are receiving treated at Mapuordit Hospital. He accused the SPLA-IO rebels of raiding over 2,000 heads of cattle belonging to civilians.
The official urged UN agencies to offer any assistant to those who lost their cattle after the recent raid, saying the herders are currently in dire need of help.
Last month, authorities in Mvolo County of Amadi State accused cattle keepers from Eastern Lakes State of causing insecurity and killing a local fisherman in the area.
Photo: Cattle cross a road in South Sudan. (Radio Tamazuj)