A wildlife officer and a young man died during clashes between members of the organized forces and armed youth in Pagor Payam of Cueibet County of Lakes State, officials said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Cueibet County Executive Director Chol Cindut said the clashes erupted on Saturday when security forces intercepted the exchange of stolen cattle between armed youth from the Pakam and Gok communities in Langthony.
Cindut said wildlife sergeant Makol Lueth Muorwel and Thon Ayen Yuol, of the armed group, died in the crossfire.
According to him, the security forces had received information about the exchange and went to the scene.
"When the security forces arrived there. They found four people from Pakam armed with six cows sitting together with armed youth from Pagor Payam conducting cattle exchange activities. This is when they started to exchange gunfire with security forces immediately, killing one wildlife sergeant and one criminal was also killed on their side," he said.
He added, "The four-armed youth from Pakam of Rumbek North ran back leaving behind the six cows with security forces and those armed youth from Pagor Payam also ran astray."
The police deputy chief inspector in Cueibet County, Emmanuel Manyang confirmed that the stolen cattle were recovered and are being kept at the Mayath Payam headquarters.