The authorities in Mayiendit County of Unity State have said that at least two people, including a paramount chief and a woman, were killed, and three others were wounded on Sunday night by assailants suspected to be from the neighboring Leer County.
The commissioner of Leer County, Stephen Taker Riak, rubbished the claims and said the assailants were not from his area of jurisdiction.
The deceased were identified as Sultan Chuol Dak Guit and a woman called Nyawai Makur Teny. Among the three injured people is a nine (9) year old child. The incident occurred on Sunday at 10 pm in Norial village in Rubkuay Payam of Mayiendit County.
The commissioner of Mayiendit County, Dr. Gatluak Nyang, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that the intention of the attackers was not to rustle cattle but to kill.
“Their intention was not to look for cattle to raid. They came to the villages around Mayiendit County to kill people without intending to take any cows or properties and they ran back to Leer County,” he said.
Commissioner Dr. Nyang said the wounded who are in critical condition are being treated at the Rubkuay Payam primary health care facility.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of Leer County, Stephen Taker Riak, denied that the attack was carried out by youth from his county.
“This is a revenge killing among people in Rubkuay Payam. It is not from Koch, Mayiendit, Panyijiar, or Leer counties,” he said. “There is nobody from Leer County who went to Mayiendit County to raid cattle or kill people. We are maintaining the peace between ourselves and them.”
According to Commissioner Taker, his Mayiandit counterpart’s claims were mere propaganda.
Peter Chak Yoach, a lawmaker representing Mayiandit in the state assembly, confirmed the attack and said the assailants were from Leer County.
“These armed attackers came all the way from Leer County and killed 2 people, a paramount chief, and a woman, and severely wounded 3 others and they are now in the hospital in Rubkuay,” he said.
This is the third attack following an assassination attempt last week on Mayiandit County commissioner, Dr. Gatluak Nyang. Last Friday, 270 head of cattle were also raided from Mayiandit.