At least five people were killed, three others injured and about 3,400 cattle stolen during a raid by armed men in Uror County of Jonglei state on Monday, officials said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Tang Chatim, the Uror County commissioner, said the incident happened after the gunmen ambushed youth who were herding the animals in the Patuet area of Padiek Payam on Monday afternoon.
“The attackers ambushed our youth at the Patuet grazing area, killing two, injured two others, and went away with all the 3,430 cows,” Tang Chatim narrated. “Our youth later mobilized and followed the attackers. In the confrontation, they lost one more person and another one injured and recovered 200 cows. From the attackers, two were also killed.”
The county commissioner pointed out that the local youth have been pursuing the attackers suspected to have come from Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) since Monday afternoon.
The county police inspector, Peter Gatbel Machar, said security forces and youth have been dispatched to retrieve the raided cattle but that details are still scanty because they have yet to return.
For his part, Jay Adingora Alual, the GPAA information minister, said he is not aware of the incident.