Suspected Murle raiders kill two people in Jonglei

May 27, 2015(BOR) – Two people were killed when suspected Murle raiders attempted to attack Pariak village in South Sudan’s Jonglei state.

The raiders reportedly attacked herders at a grazing field near residential areas, killing one on spot while the other reportedly died at he tried to rescue the seized animals.

Malueth Machar, a youth who took part in the fight, said the attackers confronted the herders with the aim of confiscating cattle.

“We were herding the cattle in three different groups not far from one another. When I heard the gunfire in the group next, the firing was intense which increased spontaneously. I left the cattle and quickly ran toward that group. I joined the rest in the fight. One of us was already dead by the time I came,” Machar told Sudan Tribune.

“The rest of the attackers had already taken the cattle behind them and were firing at us in front with the cattle being driven away by the rest of their members”, he added.

Pariak village in South Sudan’s largest state and its surrounding territories like Yol-thar, Panwell and Bangachorot are often frequented by suspected Murle raiders.

Garang Athiak, a village leader, said his area was always vulnerable to attacks due lack of forces needed to protect civilians. He urged the leadership of the Greater Pibor administration to speed up the process of reconciliation between Dinka and Nuer.

(ST).