At least seven people were killed and four others injured during a cattle raid in Nyirol County of Jonglei state over the weekend, local officials said.
James Bol Makuey, the county commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj that the Friday evening raid occurred when the cattle were being returned from grazing fields in the outskirts of the Thol area and that five of the raiders were among those killed.
“It was around 4 pm when the youth were returning their cattle from grazing that they were ambushed. Two of the youth were killed and four others were injured,” Commissioner Bol said.
He claimed the attack was carried out by armed youth whom he said are being pursued as they move towards the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
The county police inspector, Gen. John Deng Nguoth, said the local youth and police have yet to return from pursuing the attackers but pointed out that the area is calm despite the incident.
For his part, Jay Adingora Alual, the GPAA information minister, said he was not aware of the incident.