56 cattle have been recovered from raiders in Muotdit County of Bieh State, after clashes Wednesday.

The attack took place in Paluony village.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, the county commissioner, Yuang Gatluak said the group of raiders was pursued by local youths, leading to the recovery of the cattle.

“Those cows were recovered after they were followed for two hours. No one was hurt during the clashes,” he noted.

Gatluak blamed the attack on armed criminals from Boma State.

The local official appealed to Boma authorities to provide security along the borders, citing the rise in cattle raids in his county this month.

Authorities in Boma State could not immediately be reached for comment. 

Cattle are a main source of wealth for many communities. Livestock-keeping communities in South Sudan routinely engage in cattle raids, which observers say have become more deadly because the pastoralists switched from using spears and arrows to using guns.