The authorities in Jonglei State’s Duk County said they have recovered 58 head of cattle following a raid last weekend that targeted herders from neighboring Twic East County.
The attack reportedly occurred at dawn last Saturday in Poktap, Duk County, where herdsmen from Twic East had moved their livestock in search of better grazing land.
According to Twic East County Commissioner Juach Arok, armed raiders stole more than 300 cattle during the incident.
However, Duk County Commissioner John Chatim disputed the figure after an official investigation.
“Investigations indicated that only 99 cattle were raided, and 58 have been recovered so far,” he revealed. “41 are still being traced from the suspected raiders who hail from Duk.”
While welcoming the recovery effort, Commissioner Arok said the cattle have not yet been officially handed over to Twic East authorities for return to their rightful owners.
In a related development, Commissioner Chatim urged authorities in Twic East to reciprocate by returning 46 cattle allegedly confiscated from an individual from Duk. “We call on our brothers in Twic East to return the cattle taken from one of our residents,” he said.
Commissioner Arok, however, denied any official knowledge of such a confiscation.
“I have heard of a man who may have abandoned his cattle out of fear after the incident, but I have no idea of cattle being confiscated in Twic East,” he said.
The incident comes amid rising tensions between some communities in Duk and Twic East, who have recently clashed over the disputed fishing island of Buoth Agany. Local leaders have called for calm and greater cooperation to prevent further escalation.