Local authorities in Rumbek North County, Lakes State, confirmed five people have been killed, nine others wounded and a market burned down in the county during an attack by youth from Luacjang in Tonj East County of Warrap State over the weekend.
The police chief inspector in Rumbek North County, Nak Aguek, told Radio Tamazuj Sunday that the clashes between Rumbek North and Luacjang youths that took place on Saturday left the market burned to ashes.
“We have five killed, nine wounded and the market is burned down. The tension is very high,” Aguek said. “Sources informed us this (Sunday) morning that Luacjang armed youth are planning for another attack on Rumbek North County. Now we are on standby.”
The Member of Parliament representing constituency 2 of Rumbek North County in Lakes State legislative assembly, Hon. Kaman Makuen-yar Achien, condemned the attack by the Luacjang youth and said it resulted in the loss of lives, displacements, and destruction of properties.
“This attacked carried out by Luacjang armed youth has resulted in the burning of the market, police station and nearby villages were torched and it has displaced the community,” the legislator said.
He attributed the attack to an attempt to raid cattle and that when the assailants failed to locate cattle camps, they carried out attacks on the Rumbek North County headquarters and burned down the whole market and surrounding villages.
Achien appealed to the state governments of Lakes and Warrap states to intervene in maintaining calm and stability between the two sisterly communities of Pakam and Luacjang.
For his part, the medical officer in charge of Rumbek North County PHCC, James Majur, said that they are treating 5 people who sustained gunshot wounds but that more of the victims of the attack were receiving treatment locally in the remote villages where the people have been displaced.
The commissioner of Tonj East County in Warrap State, John Deng Akook, said that the clashes erupted in Manchient and spread to the Town of Rumbek North County.
He said the youth of Tonj East from the Luacjang community wanted to recover some of their cattle raided by elements from Rumbek North.