Authorities in Lakes State Rumbek confirmed five people have been killed, seven others wounded and an unspecified number of cattle stolen in Cuei-adukan village of Rumbek Central County on Wednesday morning.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, the Deputy Governor of Lakes State Poth Madit Dut said, "I can confirm that I have witnessed seven people wounded and they are receiving treatment in Rumbek State hospital. Some are having minor injuries but only one person is having a critical wound with fractures on the leg and it will be okay.” 

He revealed that the state government was informed at 3 am of a planned attack in Cuei-adukan, but due to logistical challenges, they were not able to intervene in time.

“We have now deployed security forces in Cuei-adukan, three pick-ups with security forces have been deployed and the government is continuing to mobilize forces to go and protect properties and the vulnerable people,” Madit added. 

He urged the attackers and those attacked in Cuei-adukan villages on Wednesday morning to stop fighting. He said they made away with lactating cows and ox-plows during the attacks.

The minister of cabinet affairs and acting minister of information and communication in Lakes State Stephen Mathiang Deng Monydit said the attackers are not known. 

Mathiang said the government has sent a reinforcement of police forces to the area to contain the situation and investigate the exact number of casualties. 

He further said the presence of arms in the civilian population is a contributing factor to the frequent attacks in Cuei-adukan and other areas in Lakes State.

The police in Cuei-adukan village, Brigadier General Mathiang Bol confirmed that four people including a police officer was killed in the attack.