At least 242 civilians have been killed in recent attacks on several villages in Uror County of Jonglei State, a government official disclosed.
According to reports, Murle youth from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) attacked a number of villages inhabited by Lou Nuer in Uror County on Saturday morning.
The fighting, the latest in a series of incidents between the Murle and Lou Nuer, took place in Pieri, Pamai, Dhorganwel and Partet villages.
Daniel Both, the secretary general of the defunct Bieh State, told Radio Tamazuj this morning that the search for bodies is ongoing, but he said 242 people have been confirmed dead so far.
"According to the report I have received, 242 people have been confirmed dead on the Lou Nuer side, while 370 others sustained injuries," he explained.
The government official said the death toll from the attacks which targeted civilians may be higher than reported, adding that many people sustained serious injuries.
Both pointed out that the fighting has left many people displaced, urging aid agencies to support the conflict-affected families in the area.
Meanwhile, the SPLM-IO-appointed caretaker governor of Bieh State Simon Hoth Duol confirmed the incident. He said the attacks were launched by Murle youth from Pibor, but local youth managed to repulse the attackers.
“According to the report we have received, over 200 people including women and children have been killed on the Lou Nuer side. The fighting has displaced so many people and their situation is dire. So, I am appealing for support from NGOs," he added.
The opposition official condemned the attacks and called for peaceful coexistence between the two rival communities.
For his part, the speaker of the defunct Boma state assembly, Judi Jonglei admitted that a group of Murle youth had launched attacks on a number of villages in Uror County.
“We have received reports that some Murle youth went to Lou Nuer areas, but I think this could be a revenge attack,” Judi said.
He added,” We were not aware here in Juba as political leaders when Murle youth mobilised themselves to attack Lou Nuer areas. Power vacuum in the states is also contributing to insecurity.”
The communities of greater Jonglei state have for long been wrangling leading to cattle raids and child abductions.