The minister of local government in South Sudan’s Boma State says more than 80 people lost their lives and 42,000 cattle raided in an attack on Friday in Jebel Boma County.

Abraham Natabo told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that heavily armed members of the Murle community attacked the neighbouring Jieh community leading to the fatalities and more than 20 people were injured from both communities.

“The number of people who were killed in both sides is 86 from the Murle and Jieh communities. The injured are 14 Jieh and Murle 9, a total of 23. The fighting broke out on Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. The fight ended on the same day. It was a big force that attacked the Jieh and took more than 42,000 cattle,” he added.

Natabo further revealed that some government officials and army generals whom he could not name were involved in the attack.

“We suspect there are big people involved, generals in Juba who came and armed the populations ahead of the attack including some rebels,” Natabo said.

The chairperson of anti-corruption commission in the state Nyan Korok told Radio Tamazuj that Boma State governor David Yau Yau on Monday led a delegation to the affected area to assess the situation.