At least 10 people were killed and six others injured in Panakuach Payam of Aliny County in Ruweng’ Administrative Area during the handing over of 42 cattle recovered from raiders, officials said.
Acting Ruweng’s Minister of Information and Communication, James Matiok, told Radio Tamazuj that the dead included a Payam administrator.
Matiok said several other people were also injured and the whereabouts of many more remained unknown.
He described the incident as unfortunate as the collection of the recovered livestock was supposed to be a peaceful occasion.
The 42 animals were among the over 2,400 that were stolen by armed youths from Rubkona last week.
Matiok blamed the Rubkona authorities for failing to contain the armed youths from attacking the civilians in Aliny County.
“Our people are peaceful and do not know how to raid cattle,’’ Matiok said.
He said that the bodies of nine people killed were still lying in the open, as they could not be buried due to the insecurity in Panakuach.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, Rubkona County Commissioner James Element Juol Dador confirmed the fighting between the armed youth from Ruweng and Rubkona. He said the armed youths killed one person and injured three others from Rubkona County.
Dador said the fighting occurred from around 4:20 PM.