At least 13 people have been killed and five others injured in a fresh attack in Duk County of Jonglei State on Wednesday morning, a local official said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Peter Kuer Diing, a Payam administrator in Duk County, said the incident occurred when a group of armed youth stormed a cattle camp on the outskirts of Duk Padiet town.

“The incident happened at 12 AM. 23 people were killed from both sides. From our side five people were wounded and 13 confirmed dead including 2 children,” Diing explained.

Diing stated that the attackers are suspected to have come from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

The attackers, he said, went away with unconfirmed herds of cattle some of which were later recovered by the local youth.

The state police spokesperson, Major Majak Daniel Tuor, confirmed the incident without providing details, saying those who were pursuing the attackers were yet to return.

 For his part, Jay Adingora Alual, the GPAA information minister, said he was not informed of the incident.

“As a government, if it really happened that those suspected to be involved are found to be from our area, we will apprehend them. So, what we can just say is condolences to those who have lost their lives,” he said.

In March, at least 13 people were killed and 10 others wounded in an attack on a cattle camp in the same area of Duk County.