At least 24 people were killed and 37 wounded Friday in a cattle raid in Gogrial East County, Warrap State, authorities said.
The attack was carried out by armed youth from Mayom County in neighboring Unity State, officials added.
William Wol Manyang, Warrap State minister, told Radio Tamazuj that the raid occurred around 1 a.m. Friday. “Among the 24 killed were five children and 19 armed youth,” he said.
Manyang said the attacks were part of a series of raids carried out by armed youth from Mayom County, and he condemned the violence.
Nyakenya Johannes Keah Ruai, information minister of Unity State, confirmed the attacks, saying the cattle remained in Warrap State.
“We are aware that armed youth from Mayom County raided cattle from Warrap State. The cattle are still in Warrap, and when they move into Unity State, the government will recover them from the hands of criminals,” he said.
Recent months have seen a marked increase in attacks and retaliatory killings in the border areas between Unity and Warrap states, raising concerns among local communities.