Jonglei’s Pigi county accuses neighbours of cattle theft

December 3, 2013 (BOR) – Authorities in Jonglei state’s Pigi county have accused raiders from neighbouring counties of stealing at least 47 heads of cattle on Saturday 22 November.

In another attack on 1 December cattle were stolen from Wunkiir-Anyang in the Atar payam [district] of Pigi by unkown criminals, according to local officials. Young men from the area are reported to be pursuing the criminals to find out where the cattle are being taken to. No casualties have been reported.

Speaking in Bor, a local government official from Pigi county, John Gajang said his county suspected that the raiders had come from Nyirol county as the cattle had been driven away in that direction after passing through the Khorfulus area.

“This is the time for peace, let us come together so that we build our country which had remained back for so long,” Gajang said.

Elders and MPs representing Nyirol county in the Jonglei state legislative assembly have said they are committed to finding out whether any young men from their county were involved in the raid. The Nyirol leaders assured their Pigi counterparts that if the stolen cattle would be immediately returned if they were found in their county.

Pigi county, which is dominated by the Atar and Korfulus communities of the Dinka Ngok ethnic group is found in the north of Jonglei, with Fangak county to south, Ayod county to the east and Nyirol county to the north east.

(ST)