At least three people were killed, four wounded and 17 others, including women and children, abducted in an attack in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), local officials said Thursday.
Jacob Werchum Jouk, information minister in the GPAA, said the assault took place on Wednesday afternoon in Manyabol payam of Gumuruk County. He blamed armed youth from neighbouring Jonglei State and said more than 375 cattle were also raided.
“Armed attackers from Jonglei State attacked Manyabol payam at around 2:00 pm. Three people were killed and four others injured. Twelve children and five women were abducted, and more than 375 cattle were taken,” Jouk told Radio Tamazuj.
He condemned what he described as a criminal act and urged authorities in Jonglei to investigate the incident, secure the release of those abducted and recover the stolen livestock.
In Jonglei, Information Minister Nyamar Lony Thichiot said state authorities had been informed of the attack and had launched an inquiry.
“I received a phone call from my counterpart in Greater Pibor informing me about the incident,” she said, adding that she had briefed the acting governor. “A team has been sent to investigate the matter and we will update when they return with their findings.”
Cattle raiding and child abductions are common in the greater Jonglei region, where inter-communal violence frequently flares despite efforts by authorities to curb insecurity.