Cattle raiders arrested in Rumbek East county, Lakes state

March 13, 2012 (RUMBEK) – The commissioner of Rumbek East county of Lakes state, David Marial Gumke, reported that his county authority has arrested 24 suspected criminals involved in cattle raiding activities.

“They will face justice with sentences if they are proved to be guilty” said Marial, explaining that the suspected culprits have been apprehended and are currently in Baling prison.

He also alleged that despite disarmament programmes, pastoralists have been rearming, but that the county authorities are working to close all the arms trade routes.

During the forceful disarmament stage, two pastoralist youths who were resisting disarmament were shot by soldiers. Those who sustained wounds are now admitted in Baling main prison hospital.

In a bid to control cattle raiding and inter-ethnic conflict, various disarmament programmes have been rolled out across South Sudan. The country is a awash with small arms after two decades of civil war, which ended in 2005.

(ST)