5 killed, 9 wounded in Gogrial West County clashes over ownership of cattle camp

The authorities in Warrap State on Saturday said that armed youth from Aguok attacked Manyang village in Akac Payam of Gogrial West County leading to the demise of five people and injury of nine others.

The authorities in Warrap State on Saturday said that armed youth from Aguok attacked Manyang village in Akac Payam of Gogrial West County leading to the demise of five people and injury of nine others.

Last month, members of the Aguok community clashed with the Kuac community over the Muonyjang cattle camp which is claimed by both communities. The clash left five dead and many injured in both communities.

Victor Wek Koordit, the Gogrial West County commissioner, said the fighting which lasted two days occurred in the Akac area and that security forces were sent to contain the situation.

“On Thursday, armed youth from the Muonyjang area of Aguok attacked the Akac area, especially Manyang village in Kuac. Three people were killed from the Kuac community and four youths wounded while the Aguok section lost one person and sustained two injuries,” he explained. “And on Friday armed youth from the Muonyjang area attacked the same area of Manyang of the Kuac section and one person was killed from Kuac and other three people were injured and armed youth from Aguok left without injuries.”

According to Wek, the security forces deployed in the area and calm has been restored.

“The security situation as of now is stable and I am going to battle area with SSPDF officers to distribute forces on this Saturday morning and there are no more reports of violence in the county,” he added.

Meanwhile, William Wol, the Warrap State information minister and spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said that additional forces had been sent to the area.

“Aguok and Kuac armed youths resumed the fighting on Thursday and Friday and it is over the Muonyjang cattle camp and five people died and more than 6 people were wounded from both sides,” he said. “The wounded youth from Aguok were taken to Gogrial Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) because Gogrial is the headquarters of Gogrial West County which is in Aguok and the wounded people from Kuac are being treated in Kuajok Hospital which is in the Kuac area.”

Minister Wol said the conflict escalated due to flooding in the county.

“The government forces are there but these youth avoid areas which are not flooded and they fight in flooded areas but on Friday and Saturday additional forces were sent there to calm the situation” he added.