Local and police authorities in Aweil North County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State said they apprehended 4 suspected cattle thieves accused of stealing 24 cows from the Rizeigat community of Sudan late last year.

The cattle are said to have been stolen in September last year but the owners formally opened a case recently in Gokmachar where the local authorities arrested the suspects and forced them to provide information about the missing animals.

The Aweil North County police inspector, Brigadier General Mabior Deng Deng told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that 12 cows have so far been recovered out of the missing 24.

“We are investigating the cattle stolen from the Rizeigat around September 2021. 8 cows were recovered yesterday (Monday) and four cows were recovered earlier,” Gen. Deng said.

Victerino Ken Akoon, the Aweil North County commissioner, said the search is still on for the missing cattle and that he ordered the security agencies to go ahead with the investigations so as to curb cattle thefts and other crimes in the county.

“Yes, the accused are now in detention and the investigations are ongoing,” Commissioner Ken said. “Last month, 4 cows were recovered and 4 more were recovered yesterday (Monday) and the search is still active.”

Makuei Geng, a member of the joint border peace committee of the Dinka Malual and Rizeigat, commended the local government for seriously investigating the cattle theft incident.

“They may be saying that they are not the robbers and they will be released if they are not the ones. But if they are the ones, they will be asked to return the stolen cattle to the rightful owners,” Geng said. “If they do not pay, then the law will take its course.”