Authorities in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) are demanding 150 cattle stolen by armed assailants suspected to have come from Eastern Equatoria State when they attacked a cattle camp in Verthet County on Tuesday.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, GPAA Information Minister Oleyo Akwer Nyalus, condemned the incident and demanded the return of the cattle to their owners.
“On July 23, armed youth from the neighboring Eastern Equatoria State attacked a cattle camp in Verthet County, 150 cattle were stolen and one of our herdsman was critically injured,” he stated.
“Since then, our youth have been pursuing the attackers towards Kapoeta to recover the stolen cows.”
The GPAA government spokesperson said the attack could derail efforts to pacify his community and their neighbors in Eastern Equatoria and demanded that investigation be instituted.
“We condemned this attack and called on Eastern Equatoria State authorities to help recover the stolen animals,” Nyalus added.
Efforts to reach the Eastern Equatoria State authorities were not immediately successful. GPAA and Eastern Equatoria have had a bitter relationship caused by cyclic cattle raids since the beginning of this year, prompting the closure of goods supply route to Greater Pibor.