About 26 suspected cattle raiders have been arrested in South Sudan’s Eastern Lakes State, a local government official said.
Eastern Lakes State is one of the states which came into existence after President Kiir issued an order in October 2015 to divide up South Sudan and create 28 states.
David Tong Koryom, Yirol County Commissioner, told radio Tamazuj on Monday that security agents in his county arrested 26 local youths suspected of cattle raiding in separate incidents last October.
“On the 6th October, 14 youths were arrested, and another incident was on the 12th of the same month, our security also managed to arrest other 12 youths who were bringing some stolen cattle from Tali County of Terekeka State after our security forces laid ambushes when they heard of the raiders coming with cattle,” said Koryom.
“So all the cattle were returned to the authorities of Terekeka State on the same day after the incident,” he added.
The official pointed out that all the 26 suspected cattle raiders who were jailed last month hail from Eastern Lake State.
Koryom also claimed that another suspected cattle raider from Terekeka State who was believed to have links with the 26 local youths from Eastern Lakes State had decided to surrender to police authorities, saying he was also accused of coordinating activities with other cattle raiders.
Commissioner Koryom revealed that two cattle raiders from his county were also arrested in Terekeka State on 2 October. He noted that the two local youths were accused of stealing eight cattle and that they would appear before a local criminal court in neighbouring Terekeka State.
Koryom explained that the two suspects will be taken to court on Friday after investigations.