Commissioner of Twic East County Dau Akoi says that two herders were killed and two wounded during a recent cattle raid in the war-torn state.

The western county of Jonglei lies to the north of the state capital Bor, where the army has set up base since recapturing the city in January from opposition fighters who were pushed to the northeast.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Akoi said the raid took place on 8 March at 4:00 p.m. in Nawai area, resulting in the theft of about 100 cows.

Yesterday night another raid took place at a cattle camp called Pomot in Kongor Payam, he said, adding that police and herders were still pursuing the thieves.

The commissioner alleged that the perpetrators were “a group of youth from Murlei tribe,” but this could not be independently verified.

Asked why they would do this when the Yau Yau militia have signed an agreement with the government, he said, “We are not accusing the militia of Yau Yau, but we are accusing youth who do not belong to the militia of David Yau Yau.”

He said these ‘criminals’ were “trying always to ruin the peace between the two counties” of Twic and Pibor.

Since the raiders headed with the cattle southeast “direct toward Gumuruk,” he concluded that the raiders belonged to Gumuruk Payam.

The commissioner dismissed questions as to whether the cattle thieves also could have come from Duk County. “We don’t steal cattle from each other,” he said.

Akoi further noted that he had sent a message to the Commissioner of Pibor County Joshua Konyi asking that the cattle be returned to Twic East if sighted anywhere in Pibor County.

Related:

Two killed, three injured in attack in Jonglei’s Twic East (Sudan Tribune, 10 March)

File photo: A young cattle herder from the Dinka tribe carries his AK 47 rifle near Rumbek, capital of the Lakes State (Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)