At least 3,000 head of cattle were stolen by armed assailants during a night raid in a village on the outskirts of the Jonglei State capital, Bor, on Tuesday, authorities said.
Jonglei State Deputy Governor Wilson Wuol Gajang inspected the incident scene on Tuesday and told Radio Tamazuj that the incident was very unfortunate, and that the assailants managed to go away with 3,000 cows and 80 donkeys because there were no adequate police in the village.
“Armed Murle criminals raided Baidit Payam on Tuesday at 12 a.m. while people were asleep. They indiscriminately opened fire on the village, but thankfully, no one was killed,” he said. “However, the assailants went away with 3,000 cows and 80 donkeys, the community uses for transportation.”
The deputy governor condemned the attack and said armed local youth were pursuing the assailants in an attempt to recover the stolen animals.
For his part, Jacob Werchum Jouk, the Information Minister for the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), condemned the attack by armed youth from his area and said the incident is being investigated.
“The security apparatus and authorities in Jonglei State reported these incidents to us,” he said. “We are deeply concerned and disappointed by these attacks in Duk and Baidit, which don’t reflect the will of the people of the Greater Pibor.”
The minister reaffirmed GPAA’s commitment to peaceful coexistence with neighbors and said three suspects were arrested in connection with a raid in Duk County a week ago. He said the suspects are being investigated at the border.