At least five herdsmen were killed, two others injured and about 100 head of cattle stolen during a raid by an armed youth group in Nyirol County in Jonglei State on Sunday, local officials said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Monday, Commissioner James Bol Makuey of Nyirol County said the incident occurred as the herders were returning from a grazing site in Waat Payam on Sunday evening.
“What happened yesterday at 4 pm was that some of our local youths were waylaid while returning from the grazing site between Waat and Walgak. Five people were killed and two others injured and 100 cattle raided,” Bol said.
John Samuel Manyuon, the state information minister, and Both Jal, the Nyirol County information director, also confirmed the incident and said more clashes are still going on.
Minister Samuel claimed that the attackers were from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
“On Sunday, armed youth from GPAA attacked Waat Payam, killing five and wounding one person. The same day, there were other coordinated attacks in other areas of Uror like Motot and Pulchuol, and as we speak, fighting is ongoing in Chuelgai of Karam Payam,” he added.
Last week, Simon Peter Ajany, the GPAA local government minister, denied knowledge of Pibor youth involvement in attacks in parts of Jonglei State, saying no youth would be involved because of the ongoing fighting in GPAA.