Local government officials in Jonglei State’s Duk County have expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in parts of the county which they say is crippling daily livelihood activities among the residents.
Duk County Commissioner John Chatim Ruei told Radio Tamazuj that an armed youth group suspected to be from the neighboring Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) is involved in destabilizing the county.
“Since the beginning of this year, our county has been subjected to repeated attacks by a marauding Murle criminal band,” he explained. “As of last week, a farmer was attacked and had his legs broken on the outskirts of Poktap Town. In Pagak, a woman was attacked while collecting firewood, stabbed, and left unconscious. Separately, in the areas of Poktap and Patuet, the same criminal group raided 59 cows and 66 goats.”
The commissioner condemned the attack and urged GPAA officials to intervene.
“Recently we wrapped up a peace meeting in Pibor and we do not understand why these attacks continue unabated,” he said. “Our people are not able to go about their businesses and we want GPAA counterparts to have this stopped.”
However, Jacob Werchum Jouk, the GPAA information minister, said they were not aware of the attacks and challenged Jonglei State to investigate so that they could establish the identity of those behind the crimes.