Two people were killed and seven others wounded during a cattle raid in Mayom County of Unity State by suspected armed Misseriya Arab nomads over the weekend. 

James Chuol Gatluak Manime, the commissioner of Mayom County, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj Monday that his area came under attack on Saturday resulting in the death of two local youth and seven others, including three soldiers from the SSPDF’s 4th Division.

“There is a place called Ariel between Abiemnhom and Mayom County where most of cattle camps are stationed. Some armed group from Arab nomads from Sudan came at around 4 pm and attacked the cattle camp and went away with 115 cows and killed two people and wounded seven others,” Chuol added.

Chuol noted that none of the soldiers sent to the scene to contain the situation were killed but three were injured.

He said five people who sustained serious injuries were transferred to Bentiu State Hospital while the other two with minor injuries are being treated at Mayom Hospital.

Commissioner Chuol alleged that eight dead bodies of the attackers were found lying at the scene of the clashes on Saturday and they were identified as belonging to Misseriya nomads.

For his part, Unity State information minister Gabriel Hon Makuei said the attackers were on a cattle raiding mission and managed to rustle cattle from Taam Payam in Bong Boma of Mayom County on Saturday.

“The real information is that that attack happened on 20 March at 4 pm in Bong Boma of Mayom County. The attackers are the Misseriya nomads. From our side we had two killed and seven wounded- four SSPDF soldiers from Division 4 and three civilians,” Makuei said.

Makuei accused Arab nomads of the Misseriya tribe from South Kordofan in Sudan of being responsible for the attacks.

Radio Tamazuj's attempts to reach authorities in South Kordofan, Sudan for comment were in vain due to poor telephone connection in the area.