4 killed, houses torched, cattle raided in Yirol East county

A man from the Mundari tribe stands among cattle on Jan. 18, 2012 in Juba. [Photo: Kyodo/Landov]

At least four people including the former deputy SPLM County secretary were killed, 20 cattle raided and over 600 households displaced in Yirol East county of Lakes State.

At least four people including the former deputy SPLM County secretary were killed, 20 cattle raided and over 600 households displaced in Yirol East county of Lakes State.

County officials say the incident happened last Friday after armed youth allegedly from neighboring Panyijiar county of Unity state came to raid cattle at Adior Payam.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, a Relief and Rehabilitation Commission official in Adior Payam, John Machar Majok said over 600 households of about over 3,000 people have been displaced from Ayim, Balou, Amethcek, Mayen, and Mayom villages after their homes were torched.

"We have a huge number of the displaced people from last week's cattle raids from Adior carried out by the neighboring Unity State armed youth which left four people killed including former deputy SPLM County secretary Martin Madol Yenpe, one wounded, and 20 heads of cattle raided in Adior Payam," he said. 

He said more than 100 homes were burnt to ashes in the raid and appealed to humanitarian organizations to provide emergency assistance to the displaced community of Adior.

The secretary-general of the defunct Eastern Lakes State Barnaba Mayor Deng told Radio Tamazuj that the former deputy SPLM county secretary Martin Madol Yenpe and three other people were killed in the attack. 

Mayor appealed to Unity State authorities in Juba and in Panyijar County to speak with their youth to stop cattle raiding and attacking villages of Lakes State as he pleaded with the displaced to return to their homes.

"I urge the displaced community of Adior Payam not to evacuate the villages where they have been displaced. We want them to return home," he said.