Authorities from the Abyei Area and Twic County in Warrap State reported a deadly attack over the weekend in Alal County, Abyei. The attack resulted in the deaths of seven civilians, including two children, and left one person injured. The assailants are suspected to be armed youth from Twic County’s cattle defense group, known as the Titweng.
Bulis Koch, the Abyei Minister of Information and spokesperson for the area government, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that investigations revealed the attackers were from Twic County in Warrap State.
“Armed youth from Twic County, known as Titweng, attacked Rubnyin village in Alal County last Sunday,” Koch explained. “This attack claimed the lives of seven innocent civilians, including two babies, and injured one person. We collected accurate information this morning, and the perpetrators were pursued by national security forces towards Twic County.”
Koch provided more details on the recent attack in Alal County. “The seven people who were shot dead were not Abyei armed Titbaai (Abyei defense home) youth; they were innocent civilians who were farming,” he explained. “The victims included two women, three men, and two children who were in their hut (Luok). The attackers initially greeted them, but two of the attackers later returned and started shooting, according to information we received from the wounded person.”
Koch added that national security forces had been pursuing the perpetrators since yesterday, but the attackers moved towards Twic County. He mentioned that while the SSPDF (South Sudan People’s Defense Forces) is deployed in the area, armed criminals sometimes sneak through deep forests to attack villages. Koch also noted that last week, a national working with Somali truck drivers disappeared after road robbers attacked a truck, stealing money and phones from its occupants.
Simon Aguek, the Twic County commissioner, confirmed the incident but denied that his armed youth were responsible for the killings. “The Abyei people made those claims, but there is no evidence. That area has experienced many incidents, from Malual Aleu and Kadhiang up to the bridge of Akecnhial. Last week, two truck drivers were shot on the road to Abyei, and we don’t know who the robbers were. I suggested at the time that soldiers should be deployed to protect the road during a meeting with the chief of the army, but my suggestions were ignored,” he said.
Aguek provided an update on the recent security incidents. He clarified that the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) does not permit the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in the area due to numerous security issues. He confirmed that five people were killed in Rubnyin village but did not have information on the wounded.
Aguek highlighted the tense security situation at the Mayom border in Unity State and the Ruweng border at Abiemnhom. Armed youth from Mayom raided cattle in Apirin village, Twic County, over the weekend. Additionally, individuals collecting wood were shot and injured at the Abiemnhom border in the Ruweng administrative area last Friday, although no fatalities were reported.
“Armed youth from Mayom, who previously killed people in Majok earlier this month, raided 150 cattle in Apirin village on May 18, killing a shepherd, a young boy who was tending the cattle. Some of the cattle were spotted in Gol village, Mayom County, and 38 have been recovered,” Aguek reported.