28 people killed in Warrap state cattle raid

April 18, 2014 (JUBA) – At least 20 people were killed and dozens injured when suspected cattle raiders attacked a village in South Sudan’s Warrap state on Thursday, an official said.

“On Thursday 17, at around 2: am, a group of armed men infiltrated security arrangement of Tonj North County and entered Alabek payam. The attackers targeted cattle camps while people were sleeping and tried to drive away the cattle,” Paul Dhel Gum, the acting minister for information and telecommunications told Sudan Tribune by phone Friday.

“The fighting continue from Thursday till Friday 19 when [the] attackers got [the] chance to run away with nothing in hand,” he added.

The minister claimed the attackers were backed by men in military uniform believed to have come from neighbouring Unity state.

“The community played a great role in defending their properties through community police and over 85 attackers were killed and many small arms AK47 were captured by Lou Ariik community,” said Gum.

A community policeman in the area said the attackers suffered heavy losses.

Meanwhile, the governor of Warrap, Nyandeng Malek condemned the “barbaric” act on innocent people in the state, vowing thorough investigations into the matter.

She said her government would protect the lives and properties of people in the state.

(ST)