At least five people were killed and several others wounded in a cattle raid in Poktap town of South Sudan’s Duk Payuel County of Jonglei State on Tuesday, a local official said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Deng Achiek Jok, the Duk Payuel County commissioner said the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when some armed men attacked the town and raided over 6,000 cattle that were later recovered.

“Duk Payuel was attacked yesterday at 2 PM when the cattle were taken for grazing. So the attackers came during the rains, they raided the cattle from the grazing field in Poktap but local youth managed to recover the cattle,” he said.

He added, “The youth sustained heavy causalities. Five local youth were killed and 15 wounded while from the side of attackers we found two dead bodies. The attackers are from Murle.”

The local official pointed out that the locals are now living in fear of further attacks.

Commissioner Deng pleaded with authorities in Boma State to intervene, saying the situation may escalate as the local residents are still angered that more than 50 children are still missing since last year’s attack.