Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Residents of Central Equatoria State living along the corridors used by herders to evacuate cattle to Jonglei State have been told to provide smooth passage of the animals.
This comes after nine people lost their lives following yesterday’s (June 24) dawn attack by alleged herders on unarmed citizens.
The unfortunate incident took place in Mogiri County.
According to CES officials, the killing happened in Lokiliri village.
“This morning (yesterday), suspected Jonglei Armed cattle herders moved out of their transit camp at Magiri area of Juba County and cruelly attacked Lokiliri village, leaving nine innocent civilians dead and about three children abducted, several villagers displaced and houses torched,” CES Minister of State Cabinet Affairs – Wayi Godwill Edward said in a statement seen by City Review.
City Review could not independently ascertain the allegations by the minister that the attackers were Jonglei herders.
Wayi, however, revealed the state government has since deployed security agencies to the affected areas, to arrest the situation.
At the same time, Governor Emmanuel Anthony Adil ordered the immediate relocation of the cattle following the attacks. He further called on locals to cooperate with the authorities and herders in the process of evacuation.
The cattle are temporarily camping in the Mogiri area.
“On behalf of the government and the people of the state, the governor condemns in the strongest terms possible the additional crimes perpetrated in Central Equatorial,” Wayi added.
Jonglei herders moved to Central Equatoria early this year, in search of pasture cattle, following the flooding in the area.
Mid May, the CES government and the herders struck a deal to safely evacuate the cattle back to the origin following a spat of violence between the herder and locals.
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