Authorities in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) have said 43 cattle traders who were attacked on a road while taking livestock to Juba for sale last week are still missing.
Two people were killed and 300 head of cattle stolen when assailants attacked a group of Murle cattle traders at Jabor along the Juba-Bor Highway last week.
GPAA Information Minister Oleyo Akwer Nyalus told Radio Tamazuj Sunday that one person was initially confirmed dead but that the toll later increased to two after another dead body was found in the bush. He also disclosed that 43 cattle traders are still missing and that a search is ongoing for them.
“As of now, two people are confirmed dead and six injured while 300 cattle were stolen. Of the missing 44 traders only one has managed to return, the rest are still missing,” he said. “Their whereabouts are not known and maybe they are lost in the bushes.”
Akwer added: “As a government, we dispersed some people to help spot those who are missing with the hope that they will be found before they are out of drinking water.”
The GPAA spokesperson condemned the attack and urged the national authorities to disperse security forces to help them rescue those still at large.