Local authorities in Tonj North County in Warrap state said Tuesday that armed attackers believed to be from Mayom County in Unity state raided cattle camps in the Paau area, killing and wounding civilians.
John Agany, commissioner of Tonj North County, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the attackers used heavy weapons. He said some arms were captured after the assailants were repelled. Officials said cattle keepers from neighboring Gogrial East County often move to Tonj North for grazing during the dry season.
“At around 3:30 a.m. local time, attackers from Mayom County in Unity state clashed with cattle owners at Paau village in the Kong-goor section of Aliek Payam. Seven people were killed in Kong-goor, while four others were killed in the Lou Arik area of Gogrial East County. Twenty-four people sustained gunshot injuries,” Agany said.
He said the attackers were defeated by local armed youth, who recovered weapons left behind. He added that authorities have not established the number of attackers killed. The wounded were taken to health facilities in Wau and Kuajok for treatment.
Deng Ayuel, deputy paramount chief of Awuul Payam in Tonj North, confirmed the incident, saying casualties were also reported among the attackers and that several heavy weapons were seized during the clashes.
“An incident occurred in Aliek Payam at around 3 a.m. on Tuesday when armed men attacked cattle camps in Toch, a swampy area in the Kong-goor section. Eight cattle keepers from Gogrial East County who were grazing in the area were killed, and about 30 people were taken to Wau for medical treatment,” he said.
Ayuel said local youth from Aliek and Alabek payams responded to the attack. “Four people among the rescuers were killed, bringing the total number of those killed to 12 during the clashes between defenders and attackers,” he said.
He claimed that many attackers were killed, citing weapons recovered at the scene, including 47 AK-47 rifles, five PKM machine guns and three RPG launchers. He also alleged that a senior commander among the attackers was killed, though the claims could not be independently verified.
Joseph Madut, a former commissioner of Tonj North County and now a community leader in Kirik Payam, said the attack began late Monday.
“The incident, which was instigated by armed youth, occurred on March 16 at around 1 a.m. and lasted several hours, but I do not know the exact number of casualties,” he said.
Madut also reported a separate incident on March 15 in which a man and a woman were killed in Wundoong, Panagoth section. He said security forces were pursuing the perpetrators.
Jackson Mut, commissioner of Mayom County, confirmed the attack and said authorities on both sides were working to improve security along the border.
“The attack occurred on Monday after prior communication. I warned that a coordinated raid was being prepared by youth from the Mayom side. They attempted to raid but failed to take any cattle because the Tonj North commissioner had alerted local youth. He later confirmed that an attack took place and that many attackers were killed, though no exact figures were provided,” Mut said.