Local authorities at Malek Alel in Aweil State have on Friday handed over 51 cows to their owners at Kuac South County in Gogrial state.
This comes after four people were convicted for two years each at Malek Alel prison after being caught with some of the stolen cattle.
Bol Lual Agak, the county commissioner of newly created Kuac South in Gogrial state said the efforts made by the government of Aweil State to return the stolen cattle to their owners are an indication of peaceful coexistence between the neighbouring counties of the two states.
“I want to thank the authorities especially the police, the commissioner and paramount chiefs of Malek Alel as well as the entire government of Aweil for what they have done to return these cows since this is the first time to happen,” he said.
“I’m now calling on my colleagues, the county commissioners of Gogrial state to copy this because if all of us act like this then the network of thieves and disputes related to cattle theft I believe will be minimized.”
One of the cattle owners Sultan Tong Manyuat who received 14 of his cows says he was helped by police and chiefs of Aweil South County during his search for his lost cows.
“I managed to find my cows because of the assistance and cooperation given to me and my colleagues by the people of Aweil South County. They really helped us to move from one cattle camp to another looking for our cows until we identified our own cows,” he said.
He urged the authorities of his county to use this example shown by the people of Aweil state in dealing with thefts across the state.