Jonglei: Five killed, four injured in Twic East raid
July 15, 2013 (BOR) – At least five people were killed and four injured in a Sunday night attack on Pator cattle camp in Jonglei state’s Twic East county, a local South Sudanese official told Sudan Tribune.
“We were surprised with the attack at Pator camp in Nyuak payam [district]. The attackers fired at the camp, killing four people, wounding four others and killing 32 cattle,” Alier said on Monday.
He further revealed that four of those killed were from Ayual community in Nyuak payam, while the other is believed have been one of the attackers.
Alier largely blamed the Murle tribe and rebels operating in Pibor county of allegedly carrying out the surprise attack.
“These are armed group of David Yauyau, they were heavily armed with machine guns. We identified them, they are from David Yauyau and Murle community in general,” said the acting commissioner.
The raiders reportedly made off with 476 heads of cattle, which were recovered later on Monday.
“In the morning [Monday], the community police, prison and wildlife perused the enemy and they recovered the raided cattle at 3:00pm,” Alier confirmed.
Cattle raids, counter and tribal retaliatory attacks between the Lou Nuer and the Murle in South Sudan’s largest state have led to several deaths and loss of animals.
LOU-NUER ADVANCE AGAINST YAUYAU REBELS
Meanwhile, Jonglei governor Kuol Manyang Juuk, said the Lou-Nuer’s armed youth have advanced against Yauyau rebels in their recent retaliatory offensive against the latter, expressing fears of a humanitarian disaster in the area.
Juuk issued a press statement on Saturday in Juba after briefing the country’s vice-president, Riek Machar on the gravity of the situation in Jonglei.
Reports reaching the authorities suggested that several rebel commanders were reportedly killed during the two-day fierce battles when their main bases in Nanaam and Monyibol in Gumruk were overrun by the armed youth, who captured hundreds of weapons, including anti-aircrafts weapons.
Sources say rebel leader Yauyau survived the attack, which reportedly claimed the lives of many of his senior officers.
Officials said South Sudan army (SPLA) was preparing to confiscate the heavy weapons captured from the Luo Nuer youth.
Aid agencies said more than 200 wounded Lou-Nuer youth were on Saturday flown to Bor hospital for treatment.
The Luo Nuer armed youth are, however, said to be advancing in Gumruk areas in pursuit of the rebels. It is feared that the attack will create a grave humanitarian disaster among the Murle civil populations.
Juuk said the SPLA was unable to respond to the renewed inter-communal violence, blaming the timing of the offensive, as rains are hampering the mobility of the forces on the ground.
He further said the fighting also took place in forested areas, which are inaccessible by land.
Helicopters belonging to the SPLA and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been airlifting the wounded Lou-Nuer youth to the hospitals in the state capital, Bor, the UN-sponsored Miraya FM radio reported on Monday.
(ST)