The leader of a group of cattle raiders in Tonj North County in Warrap State was last week in killed by the army in the Marial-Lou area. 

Warrap State Information Minister Wol Mayom identified the notorious criminal as Bol Akol, 36, who he said has been involved in criminal activities for a long time but was killed on Thursday night after attacking a military barracks where recovered cattle were kept.

“During the incident, only the leader was killed but 20 people have been arrested. Since 2021, the Warrap State government managed to control cattle raiding but they resumed in July under the leadership of the late Bol Akol,” he said. “In greater Tonj North, cattle rustlers sometimes ambush and kill innocent civilians and raid cattle during the day.”

Minister Mayom however said people have cultivated crops this year and that the general situation is calm. 

“If we have peace, we will have developmental progress,” he said. “Whoever is still having that idea of cattle raiding and killing in his mind should surrender because we want peace to prevail in the area.”

Earlier this month, Warrap State reported numerous cattle raids which resulted in the death of eight people including a woman.

In 2021, the state also witnessed several intercommunal conflicts.