A traditional court in Mayendit County, Unity State, has sentenced two suspected cattle raiders to three years in prison.
Last Friday, the court said the duo will serve jail terms following their involvement in cattle raids in the area.
They are believed to have been behind the theft of 30 heads of cattle in Warrap State last week.
The raiders were arrested a week ago for being behind the spate of insecurity incidents in Warrap and Unity States.
Previously, two other suspects were arraigned at a Mayendit traditional court and charged with similar offences. They are serving jail terms at Rubkuai prison.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, Riek Biel, acting Mayendit County Commissioner, confirmed the imprisonment, adding that the suspects were accused of raiding cattle in Warrap and Unity states.
Biel described the raiders as “criminals”, saying any suspected cattle raiders would face a similar fate.
He said the cattle raiders formed a cattle exchange cartel between Unity and Warrap states.
“The people arrested are from Mayendit; there is a Payam known as Madol.”
Riek said the two suspects have been raiding cattle from cattle camps near the border of Unity State and Warrap states.
“The court at Rubkuai in Mayendit County has charged each person with three years in prison. And they will be referred to the prison in the state capital,” he explained.
Warrap and Unity States have experienced regular cattle raids, causing insecurity and revenge killings among local communities. Cattle raiding has been a driver of inter-communal violence in many counties and states across South Sudan.