Authorities in South Sudan’s Bieh State said at least 460 heads of cattle were raided from Wickol County by a group of armed men on Tuesday afternoon.

Bieh State information minister Peter Nin told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the incident occurred when a group of armed youth suspected to be from Boma state attacked Pamay Payam of Wickol County.

“Yesterday in the afternoon at around 2:00 pm, the Murle youth attacked Pamay. Pamay is a place located to the south of Yuai town. The Murle youth took 460 heads of cattle. Up to now no cattle is returned. But the cattle owners are still after their cattle,” he said.

The state official pointed out that there were no injuries or death during the incident.

Minister Nin has appealed to Boma government to intervene by arresting the cattle raiders and return the stolen cattle. He added that authorities in Bieh State will engage the locals in order to de-escalate the already rising tensions.

However, Boma state information minister Beko Konyi refuted the claims saying youth from his state were not involved in the cattle raid.