Authorities in South Sudan’s Warrap state on Sunday said that suspected armed youth from Lakes state’s Cueibet County kidnapped two people and raided 23 cows on Friday in Tonj South County.
Tonj South County acting commissioner Mabior Ajech speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday alleged that some criminals from Cueibet made away with 23 cows and abducted two men in Manyang Ngok Payam of Tonj South County.
“The criminals of Gok, Cueibet county came here to Ayom village in Manyang-Ngokok payam on Friday and went away with 23 cows and a boy who was looking after cows and another man who was riding his motorbike along the road was also kidnapped. There was no communication network that day in the area,” Ajech said.
He adds, “We received information on Saturday and rushed to the scene where we got the motorcycle and the perpetrators left with two people and 23 cows. But I went to Malou Pech Payam of Lakes state on Saturday and met with the acting commissioner of Cueibet county Gen. Madit and he immediately sent SSPDF to pursue the criminals.”
Ajech confirmed that the two who were kidnapped may be alive as no bodies were recovered in the bushes by security forces pursuing the raiders.
For his part, acting Cueibet Commissioner General Madit Deng confirmed the incident and said the cattle will be traced and sent back to their owners.
“We are still running after them and we met yesterday with the acting commissioner of Tonj South County and agreed to look jointly where they (perpetrators) have gone because the areas are flooded and if we found them the minister of information for Lakes state will announce it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Warrap state information minister condemned the incident and appealed to the families of those kidnapped to refrain from revenge attacks as the two governments are working on the issue.
“The government of Warrap condemns this act and also requests the families of the boys and man and the owners of cows to refrain from revenge attack because the state governments of Warrap and lakes are working together to bring back cows and the people so justice will prevail,” he said.