A group of armed youth from Jonglei State who briefly invaded and attacked parts of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area’s (GPAA) Gumuruk County have retreated after looting over 3000 head of cattle, local authorities reported.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday evening, Jacob Werchum Jouk, the GPAA information minister, said the attacking youth decided to withdraw on Sunday afternoon after overrunning several villages and looting cattle they found there.
He said at least four local youths were killed while attempting to fight off the assailants and that scores were injured while several others fled to seek refuge elsewhere.
“During the incident, four youths from Murle were killed by attackers, several people were displaced, and the attackers managed to go away with 3,027 cattle,” he reported. “Regarding injuries, we have yet to get the statistics. According to the team we sent to the incident scene, at least 31 bodies of the attackers were found.”
The minister said fighting stopped on Sunday afternoon after the local youth were overwhelmed.
“The fighting started on Friday evening as our youth continued resisting. However, by Sunday afternoon, they managed to overwhelm our youth and took all the cattle in the villages of Nyalima, Kibali, and Thamarac,” the minister said. “Those who fled the attack are currently camping in Manyabol Town.”
According to Werchum, the assailants retreated towards Jonglei State’s Gadiang Town with the cattle they raided.
However, Jonglei State Information Minister Nyamar Lony told this publication over the weekend that they were not aware of the conflict and distanced their youth from any involvement.
“We have been in contact with our youth, they are still in their respective counties and no youth has moved from Duk, Uror, or Ayod,” she asserted.
Minister Nyamar emphasized her government’s commitment to fostering peaceful coexistence.
“Even after attacks by Pibor youth on Uror, we urged our youth not to retaliate, and they have remained calm,” she stated. “We are advocates of peace and will send a peace delegation next week to promote harmony.”