Sheila Ponnie
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Members of Parliament from Eastern Equatoria State who are serving in the National Assembly condemned the attack against the people of Kauto Payam in Kapoeta Eastern County.
Victor Ohide, a Member of Parliament representing Eastern Equatoria State, pointed fingers at Murle youth, accusing them of being the masterminds of the attack.
Ohide revealed damning statistics during a press briefing held at the Parliament in Juba, saying, “more than 32 people lost their lives, over 26 were wounded, and more than 90 individuals, including women, children, and the elderly, were abducted. Additionally, the attackers raided over 16,877 cattle and 6,853 goats and sheep.”
He further condemned the killing of nine individuals in Imehejek Administrative Area and the killing of 57 cows in Ngauro.
In a unified call for peace, the group of parliamentarians urged the people of Kauto and all Toposa communities to refrain from retaliatory actions.
They assured that the national government, Eastern Equatoria State government and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, are diligently working to address the situation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Angelo Lokinga Lotobo, a Member of Parliament from Kauto in Kapoeta Eastern Equatoria State, expressed deep shock over the unprecedented nature of the attack, likening it to nothing he has witnessed before.
“I have never experienced such attacks resulting in the abduction of women and children, along with the theft of thousands of livestock,” Lotobo lamented.
Lotobo made a heartfelt appeal for support from the Government and the United Nations to aid the affected people of Kauto.
Patrick Lodinfa Kotein, representing Kapoeta East County, also alleged that Murle youth were responsible for the raid, killings, and abductions.
He provided details of their movements, suggesting they were tracked from their point of origin to the scene of the attack.
In addition to urging UN and humanitarian agencies to urgently assist the affected people of Kauto, the MPs appealed for facilitation for some members of TNL to visit the affected areas.
The lawmakers concluded by calling on the national government to intensify efforts to capture and prosecute the culprits, as well as to recover all stolen livestock and rescue the abducted women and children currently held in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.
Recent reports confirmed the severity of the attack, with 90 women and children abducted, 32 people killed, and 22 others injured in the violent incident and cattle raid carried out by armed youts from Greater Pibor in the Kauto of Eastern Equatoria State’s Kapoeta East County.
Elia John Ahaji, the state’s information minister, detailed the extent of the devastation caused by the raiders, who made away with an estimated 16,000 cattle and over 6,000 goats and sheep according to reports from local media.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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