The local authorities in the restive Tonj East County in Warrap State on Saturday said they have apprehended at least 74 youths about cattle raids and thefts.
A local leader also said the returning of some stolen cattle to their rightful owners reduced communal conflict in the county.
Albino Angok, the Tonj East County acting commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj Saturday that the security situation has improved since they started arresting criminal youth since late last year.
“Security has improved and it started when the governor formed a peace committee which came from the state headquarters to join us in the county. We talked to the people in the payams about the advantages of peace in Tonj East County, he said. “After involving everyone, we first dealt with the thieves and cattle rustlers and we captured more than 74 of them and they are detained in Tonj Town because we do not a prison here. This is an ongoing exercise.”
“After seeing a crime reduction, on Thursday we returned 8 cows and 3 big bulls to rightful owners in Ayak Payam from Mapara Payam,” Angok added.
Meanwhile, Thokriel Chilou, a member of the peace committee who doubles as the SPLM party county chairperson in Tonj East County, confirmed the developments.
“The security situation is relatively calm between greater Luachjang and greater Anei-Atak communities and raided cattle are being returned to their owners in Jalwau, Baac Adoor, Wunthuc, and Mapara areas,” he said. “We have recorded 191 raided cattle from the sections of Addor, Jalwau, and Baac that were raided by youth Wun thuc and Mapara sections.”
According to Chilou, 43 cows and 44 goats were collected from Adoor and Baac areas and taken back to the people of Mapara Payam.
“However 19 cows and 24 goats of the Mapara people remain uncollected from Adoor,” he said.
Chilou revealed that among the 74 arrested are people who were involved in murders.