Authorities of the Dinka Ngok tribe in the disputed border region of Abyei between Sudan and South Sudan say they suspect another attack will come from the Diffra area to the north, following a deadly attack on Monday.
Sultan Belbek Kuol told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, “We received new information from one Misseriya who told us after the first attack that militias recruitment is going on now from Diffra to launch a new attack on Dinka Ngok.”
“Not all Misseriya are bad but there are those… who are giving us information on what is going to happen,” said Kuol
Kuol said they have informed UNISFA forces.
Asked whether they UN forces have released the Misseriya gunmen whom they captured after the attack on Marialachak, Kuol said he expected them to be within UNISFA compound now.
He also said the abducted four children until now were not handed to UN forces in Abyei in order to be reunited with their parents.
For his part, the Caretaker Governor of Abyei Deng Bol Athuai told Radio Tamazuj many residents fled the area that was attacked to Rumamer area in eastern Abyei.
The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) reported that three Dinka Ngok were killed in the attack on Marialachak while three were wounded, eight children were abducted and 24 houses burned. Meanwhile, the Abyei official said about 30 houses were burned and 17 goats were raided.
“About five people including four children and an elderly person were abducted not eight as was reported by UNISFA,” Athuai said.
He pointed out the total number of local population in Marialachak village did not exceed 1,000 people before the Misseriya attack was carried out.