State officials in Warrap say the security situation has returned to calm in Tonj East County after two clans fought for over three days recently resulting in more than 90 killed.
The outbreak of fighting between the Thiik and Luacjang clans was attributed to a dispute over ownership of a small piece of land named Lol-lith located at the border between the two clans. Abraham Gum, Warrap Deputy Governor told media earlier this week that at least 94 people were wounded in the fighting, but did not disclose a death figure.
Today, however, the Warrap State Minister of Information Ariec Mayar Ariec told Radio Tamazuj that 92 people were killed and 144 wounded in the fighting between 8 and 12 October. A similar figure was cited by the Governor Akec Tong Aleu who told Radio Miraya that at least 90 were killed.
Ariec said the situation is now calm and large numbers of security forces went to the area.
“The organized forces are deployed in Tonj East where the fighting occurred to stop the continuous inter-clan fighting over land ownership and I don’t know how many soldiers deployed together with organized forces but I heard many SPLA with organized forces were deployed ranging between 500 to 2,000 security agents,” Ariec said.
The information minister pointed out that nobody has been arrested yet in connection with the violence but the caretaker governor and the security agencies will investigate and bring suspects to trial. He said the fighting had stopped since almost three days ago and the next phase was the reconciliation process.
He said Caretaker Governor Akech Tong Aleu has met the community leaders of Thiik and Luac and both agreed to remain peacefully.