Over 200 head of cattle were raided from 8 Kraals from Kideopo valley and Ramula villages in Ikotos County, Eastern Equatoria State, on Saturday, local officials said.
Claudio Siliman Liling, the Kideopo valley community leader, condemned the raid as a barbaric criminal act and claimed the cattle rustlers came from the neighboring Lokwa community in Ikotos Payam.
“Some people came particularly from Ikotos Payam and they found these cattle in Ramula grazing near Iyak Mountain at 8 am (Saturday),” Liling said. “The criminals are suspected to be from about 8 villages of Ikotos Payam starting from Lofi, Huma, Kekerek, Ofayo, Niteuso, Ngutube, and the rest.”
“They took the cattle from 8 kraals, including cattle from Lodwara, because currently, they graze together in Ramula at a place called Lomus,” he added.
Liling requested the people of Kideopo valley, particularly those in Chorokol Payam, to remain calm and not retaliate while the government tries to investigate the matter.
“The youth followed these cattle and entered into Ikotos center through Kamosin and Mana Sudan office and proceeded to Ngutube,” he said. “We advised these boys to return so that the government can look into the matter. There was a shooting and a boy was injured and is currently receiving treatment in Ikotos.”
The community leader appealed to the area Members of Parliament to quickly talk to the people of the two payams so as to contain the situation.
Meanwhile, Ikotos County Commissioner Joseph Loholong Jenisio confirmed the weekend cattle raids and said his administration is working with area parliamentarians to resolve the situation.
“I am aware of it. At the moment we are joining hands with Members of Parliament so that we go and address the issue in order for the cattle to be returned to the owners,” Commissioner Loholong said. “You cannot raid your family member, we will address it.”
The state local government minister, Peter Lokeng Lotone, said the state government is committed to ensuring the raided cattle are returned to the rightful owners and bringing the perpetrators of the raid to book.
“We are trying to find out as a government and we have talked to the chiefs and the leaders of the youth. We told them not to revenge because we want the MPs to go and verify, to get exactly where the cattle are so that the state government will intervene,” Minister Lotone said.
“We have to find those culprits who raided and the cattle have to be returned to the owners,” he added.