At least three children were confirmed dead after a bloody cattle raid in Ikotos County, Eastern Equatoria State over the weekend. More people are feared dead from the raid, according to local officials.
On Saturday, hundreds of cattle raiders from the Logir section attacked and raided cattle from 5 kraals in Niteuso village of Ikotos County killing three children in the process according to the area member of parliament, Muras Chacha.
“The Logir came to Niteuso on 21 May at 3 am and raided cows from about five kraals. They killed three children, they shot one and knifed the other two,” he said. “The Logir came in a big number estimated at over 200. The local youth heard that the Logir were coming and they left cows with the small children and blocked the raiders.”
The lawmaker claimed that over 16 of the assailants were killed in the ensuing fight.
“They fought for over 12 hours after the raiders crossed Ngaluma. So, they fought for a whole day and all the raided cattle were returned. The raiders lost 16 people and from the Niyeuso side, 3 young boys died,” he added.
He said the injured are being treated at the Ikotos health center.
Meanwhile, the Logir community leader in the Kideopo Valley, Gabriel Oliha, confirmed the raid and said it was in retaliation for an earlier raid. However, he could not confirm the number of victims from the attack.
“This is true. These people raided our cows in Okorohore and later they raided from Ramula. I think it was a revenge raid. I do not know how many died but I know they raided five kraals,” he said. “It is just revenge and this is not the first time. We want people to speak the truth.”
Oliha called for calm and urged the Ikotos communities to stop targeting Logir people in the town.
Ikotos County commissioner, Joseph Loholong Jenisio, confirmed the raid and killings but said he did not have the exact number of the dead and causalities.
“The truth is that they raided cattle and five dead bodies were seen. I have not heard the exact figures. The identity of the raiders was confirmed and they are people from Chorokol,” he said. “We had put a way forward that people should come and reconcile.”