Over 2,500 cows were stolen during a raid by a group of armed men in Uror County of Jonglei state on Tuesday, local officials said.
Uror County Commissioner Tang Chatim told Radio Tamazuj that the armed raiders raided the cattle while they were being grazed in Paluony village after attacking the local youth on Tuesday afternoon.
“The incident happened on Tuesday at 2 pm. Those attackers initially overpowered the local youth and went away with 2, 500 cows,” Commissioner Chatim said. “Later, they were pursued and 2000 cows were recovered. Two of the attackers were shot dead and they were later identified as Murle tribesmen.”
He pointed out that the local youth are still pursuing the attackers whom he said are heading towards the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) in a bid to recover the rest of the animals.
The county police inspector, Lt. Col. Gatbel Machar, condemned the attack and said the raiders are being pursued in order to recover the stolen animals.
“Two youth from the Pibor side were killed. The local youth are following them to try and bring back the stolen animals,” Col. Gatbel said.
For his part, John Amor, the Pibor County commissioner, said he is not aware of the incident because the areas bordering Jonglei State lack communication network.
“I have not heard about it because there is no network in Likuangule and Gumurk,: Amor said.
Cattle raids are common among the communities in Greater Jonglei.
Earlier this month, officials in the state capital, Bor, warned that the security situation was worsening in parts of the state as Christmas approaches.