Two local youth were killed and two others injured in clashes with cattle raiders in Uror County in Jonglei State on Tuesday, local officials said.
Machot Gatluak Kenyjak, the Uror County commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj that the local youth were patrolling the outskirts of Wickol Payam when they encountered the armed cattle raiders suspected to be from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) on Tuesday afternoon.
“What happened was that our youth clashed with armed Murle raiders near a grazing site outside Wickol Payam on Tuesday afternoon leaving two of youth dead and two others injured,” he said. “Seven of the attackers were killed in the fighting.”
According to the county commissioner, the attackers planned to rustle cattle.
Meanwhile, Gatluak Reath Wuol, the youth leader in Uror County, also confirmed the clashes and said the trend is worrying.
“Our youth have been in their position just patrolling the area since returning from Pibor,” he said. “We are worried that these people (Murle) are not for peace because if they were for peace, such attacks could have not been continuing.”
For his part, Abraham Kelang, the GPAA information minister, said they are not aware of the incident but promised to investigate.
“We are not aware of this incident and of our youth in a big number in Jonglei State,” he said. “We will investigate and keep you updated.”