Three people killed in Jonglei’s child abduction

By Phlilip Thon

November 21, 2009 (BOR) – Gunmen abducted five children, killed three
people and wounded two others in Jonglei’s Bor on Saturday,
authorities say. Three raids occurred in areas peripheral to Bor town,
the capital of Jonglei state with few hours’ difference.

Local authorities allege that Murle armed men are to blame for the
attacks which surprises Dinka Bor villagers given a considerable spelt
of calm in recent months at restive Jonglei villages.

At about 2am local time on Saturday November 21, gunmen manhandled a
mother at Panaper, an area three miles south of Bor town, kidnapped
her three sons and killed an elder brother who resisted abduction. One
person is also wounded during the competition to rescue the children.

Of the abducted children, a 13 year-old boy managed to escape and
return early Saturday to Bor town, leaders from Anyidi Payam where the
persons affected in this raid hail confirm the latest development. On
road leading to Anyidi and about 8 miles east of Bor town, gunmen
killed a pedestrian on Friday.

In the neighboring Makuach Payam at 5pm local time, today Saturday,
armed gunmen abducted three children grazing goats at Palabach, an
administrator say. And in raids building-up across Bor County
territory, a woman mowing grass was gunned down and another critically
injured on Wednesday.

Cattle rustling in South Sudan along tribal lines have left at least
2,000 people dead and 1.2 other exposed to starvation in 2009, UN
says.

According to local people, the raids followed allege increasing in
Mulre marauding youths in the last two weeks around Dinka Bor areas.
Hunters and women mowing grasses for building have reported meeting
Murle tribesmen.

With dry season approaching, ‘mobility’ of raiders is expected to
improve and directly affecting tribal conflicts also ignite by
competition over grazing wetlands.

With little doubt, the going voter registration will be affected which
will challenge the next year’s election.

(ST)