At least two people have been confirmed dead in clashes between suspected rustlers and villagers in Mayom County, Unity State, a local official has said.
Luka Chierey Kuich, the commissioner of Mayom County, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that the Tuesday evening incident happened when the cattle raiders attacked a cattle camp, prompting a fierce gun battle between the two sides.
The commissioner pointed out that the attackers, who crossed from the neighbouring Gogrial East county of Warrap State, targeted a cattle camp that was on the move in search of pasture.
“There were cattle raiders who were moving from Gogrial East to Mayom County. When they reached the place called Mankien Payam, they fell into an ambush by criminals suspected to be from the Gogrial East. They killed two young men, no one was wounded, but they took 50 cattle and abducted two children,” the commissioner said.
Commissioner Kuich said the raiders stole 50 heads of cattle and headed back to Gogrial East to Warrap State, but there were no recoveries of the stolen animals.
He condemned the attack and called on the Warrap State authorities to cooperate with their Unity State counterparts in restoring peace and security in the area.
For his part, William Wol Mayom, the Minister of Information and Communication in Warrap State, said they were yet to receive any official communication about the incident from Mayom County.
“We do not have that information, and perhaps the authorities of Unity State will let us know later, but currently we have not received any official call,” he stated.