Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Armed assailants raided and looted 300 cows in Tonj North County in South Sudan’s Warrap State, specifically in Abiriu Boma, Rual-bet Payam, according to the local police director. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has heightened tensions in the region already plagued by cattle raids.
Ajal Bol Bol, the Police Director at Rual-bet Payam, recounted the incident to this publication via phone on Friday.
“On Wednesday, armed men, believed to have originated from Luany-Aguer-Adel in Tonj East County, launched a violent attack and stole 300 cows,” Bol stated.
He explained that the raiders, heavily armed with firearms, overpowered the young men guarding the cattle camp, making it impossible for them to resist or recover the stolen livestock.
“The youth pursued the attackers but were unable to retrieve the cattle, which were driven toward Tonj East County within Warrap State,” Bol lamented.
No casualties were reported, according to accounts provided by residents, Bol noted. He urged the community to remain calm, expressing confidence in the newly appointed governor’s administration, which has pledged to take decisive action to recover the stolen cattle and address the ongoing issue of cattle raids.
The communities of Tonj, both in Tonj North and Tonj East counties, have been severely affected by recurrent cattle raids, a persistent problem in Warrap State.
These raids are often perpetrated by groups from within the state as well as from neighbouring regions, including Lakes State and Mayom County in Unity State. Reports suggest that youth from these areas are frequently involved in such cross-border raids, exacerbating tensions and undermining local security.
Efforts to contact the commissioner of Tonj East County for comment or to verify the claims regarding the origin of the attackers were unsuccessful, as communication lines could not be established.
Cattle raiding remains a deeply rooted issue in the region, often tied to economic survival, cultural practices, and intercommunal conflicts, posing a significant challenge to peace and stability in Warrap State.
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