27 killed, dozens wounded in Lakes state raid
July 13, 2015 (RUMBEK) – Over 27 people, who included women and children, were confirmed dead following cattle raiding incident that occurred at Papul cattle camp in South Sudan’s Lakes state Sunday.
Kuac, who visited the cattle camp on Sunday, said majority of those wounded were mainly women and children caught up in crossfire.
“The wounded people were taken to Yirol West hospital for medical care,” adding that scored of dead bodies were seen on the ground being fed on by hyenas and birds.
“I have just collected wounded people [and taken them] to hospital. I left all dead bodies on the ground in the battlefield. My mission is to report what happened. I have no manpower to bury those who died in fighting,” Kuac told Sudan Tribune by phone.
Matur Mathiang, a youth member who led a peaceful demonstration in Yirol West county on Monday, also confirmed that 27 people, including 6 women and 7 children were killed.
The protestors, in their petition, urged the state government to employ minimum use of force while handling peace demonstrators. Some youth, however, accused the caretaker governor of allegedly introducing divide and rule policy to govern the state.
Traditional leaders, intellectuals, youth and activists have called upon South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, to remove caretaker governor, Matur Chut Dhuol for having failed to manage state security, but such calls have been overlooked by the president.
Local police say authorities have become increasingly isolated, as the public hardly share information with law enforcers, making it hard to maintain law and order in the region.
(ST)