Over 10,000 residents in Agoro and Ayii payams of Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria State have fled their homes as Jonglei cattle herders allegedly continue to harass them.
Local authorities said the fleeing population keeps increasing, saying the cattle herders dispersed their animals into homes and farms, destroying produce and homes.
Sources say the cattle herders have beaten, and tortured people, forcing them to leave their homes and farms.
Last week, the Jonglei cattle keepers vowed to compensate for the destroyed farms, calling for negotiations with the Acholi community over grazing land and water points in Magwi County, However, the Acholi rebuffed them and demanded they return to their land.
The appeal to compensate and negotiate came after the Magwi community was alarmed by the invasion over 10,000 head of cattle from Jonglei.
The head Chief of Agoro Payam, Romeo Okot, told Radio Tamazuj that the 10,800 residents fled their homes for fear of harassment by the cattle herders.
He said the presence of the Jonglei cattle keepers had caused severe suffering among the host communities
Magwi County Coordinator for the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission Salva Ben Okeny confirmed the influx of the fleeing population in Magwi town and that an assessment would be conducted to establish their actual numbers.
He urged the fleeing populations to remain calm as the government commits to convene an emergency meeting with partners for support
A resident of Nyolo in Agoro, Susan Iluhu, said the increasing number of cattle in the area had created fear and panic, forcing her to flee.
She narrated that the herders were intimidating and beating up people and destroying farms.
Agnes Abalo said the cattle herders were also accusing the local communities of stealing their livestock.
She appealed for immediate return of cattle herders to their homelands, saying farming and cattle keeping could not occupy the same space.
Jonglei herders’ representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.