Five people killed in S. Sudan’s Lakes state over cattle raiding
September 11, 2015 (RUMBEK) – Authorities in Cueibet county of South Sudan’s Lakes state have confirmed that five people were killed on Thursday by unknown gunmen in remote payam of Pagoor area. Local residents and county officials suspected that pastoralist youth from Rumbek Central County were responsible for the attack.
Isaac Mayom Malek, county commissioner of Cueibet said that clashes erupted after suspected pastoralists from Rumbek Central county carried out cattle raiding in Cueibet county. He claimed that the raiders targeted Pagoor Payam on Thursday night with the aim to loot cows.
“We have five people shot dead on spot. All cows were being recovered from Pagoor youth – we believe that raiders were coming in from Rumbek Central County. From attackers side have two people found dead on [the] ground,” said Malek.
However, a youth member from Rumbek Central county, Abraham Makuer said they were not involved in the raid. He urged Cueibet county authorities to double check the source of information to find out who carried out the attack.
“Cueibet county commissioner and their youth should verify this information. Our youth are around Rumbek Central county and nobody that went for looting,” said Makuer.
Lakes state continues as lawless state since president Salva Kiir Mayardit appointed military caretaker governor Major General Matur Chut Dhuol who replaced elected governor Chol Tong Mayay in 2013.
Several calls to remove Dhuol have been ignored by President Kiir and citizens have largely refused to share any insecurity information with security agents operating in Lakes state, which makes difficult investigation of murder cases in the area.
(ST)