Local authorities in Unity State have confirmed that 19 people were killed and 24 wounded when rustlers from Leer County attempted to raid cattle from Rubkuay Payam in Mayiandit County on Wednesday.
The commissioner of Mayardit County, Dr. Gatluak Nyang, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that the cattle raid was foiled and resulted in fighting.
“The cause of the attack was to raid cattle from Mayiandit County but it resulted in heavy fighting and 18 bodies of the attackers from Leer County and one from Mayiandit were found where the clashes took place,” he said.
Dr. Nyang said calm had returned to the area.
The state minister of culture, youth, and sports who is also the acting information minister, David Gai Jeijor, confirmed the deadly clashes and said property was destroyed and livestock looted.
“The clashes resulted in the destruction of properties, looting of goats, sheep, and burning of houses and displacement of people on both sides,” he said
The minister added that the Unity State government will send a delegation to investigate the root causes of conflict and cattle raiding in the area.
“You cannot get the real truth from the authorities in the counties but according to the information on the ground, it is Tarir armed youth from Mayiandit County who launched an attack on Leer County cattle camps in order to recover animals raided from them last month.” Minster Gai said.