The Commissioner of Twic Centre County of South Sudan’s Jonglei State said cattle raiders suspected to be from neighboring Boma State raided Pakou cattle camp on Tuesday and made away with at least 400 herds of cattle that was later recovered.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday evening, Dau Akoi Jurkuch said the local youth in the area managed to retrieve all the looted cattle after fierce fighting Wednesday morning.

“After they raided the cattle camp and went away with some cattle since yesterday, our youth followed them and this morning they returned all the cattle,” he said.

Commissioner Akoi pointed out that his area has been experiencing a series of cattle raids perpetrated by some Murle youth for the past two weeks. He urged his counterparts in Boma to control the movement of the raiders across the borders.

Radio Tamazuj could not immediately reach Boma state officials for comment.

The two neighboring communities have been trading accusations over cattle raiding and child abducted incidents across their borders. Last month, First Vice President Taban Deng Gai in his visit to the area, warned that the state would hold the two governors accountable if the incidents continue.