Warrap State authorities said eight people were killed and seven others wounded in a communal revenge attack in Tonj East County last Thursday.
Warrap State Information Minister William Wol Mayom told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the fighting was triggered by the murder of the son of a chief from the Luachjang community on May 2. The relatives of the deceased took revenge on Thursday, leading to the loss of eight other lives and injuries to seven people. The Thiik and the Akook communities were also involved in the fight.
The minister said the dead included two women and a seven- year-old baby girl.
He explained that following the killing of the chief’s son in Luachjang, his relatives attacked Manyang village, targeting members of the Thiik community. Two Thiik women and a baby were killed, heightening tensions. A section of the Akook community cashed in on the chaos to attempt to steal cattle from the Thiik, leading to two of their members being killed.
The Kongor section intervened, to recover the stolen cattle from the Akook, occasioning the killing of another two people from the Kongor community, he added.
The minister said the situation was contained following the intervention of the security agents.
Following the deadly clashes, Warrap Governor Kuol Muor, convened an emergency security meeting and quickly sent forces who calmed the situation, the minister said, adding that the hunt for the perpetrators of the violence was ongoing.
Tonj East County police boss Deng Madut confirmed the restoration of order and the crackdown on the suspects.
Madut said the police did not intervene immediately in the fight as it happened inside inaccessible bushes.