Cattle recovered from raiders in South Sudan’s Mayom county, official says
March 25, 2016 (BENTIU) – At least 120 herds of cattle have been recovered from armed youths in Mayom county in South Sudan’s Unity state after looting the cattle from the neighbouring Rubkotna county this week, said area officials.
He said the group went and attacked villages of Mathiang, Chotchara and Baal in the suburbs of Nhialdiu payam of Rubkotna county.
“The security forces have recovered more than 100 cows from raiders that went and attacked our neighbouring brothers. We condemned these barbaric activities, and as the government we will do what we can to prevent this from happening again,” he told Sudan Tribune.
He vowed not to tolerate any criminal activity in the area under his authority, adding anyone found doing these activity must be responsible with the “consequences.”
He added he has also been in close contact with his counterpart, Salaam Maluit, Commissioner of the neighbouring Rubkotna county commissioner to work together and deal with criminals who are operating along their common borders. Rupkotni county is inhabited by the Leek-Nuer section.
“We have agreed to persecute those trying to destabilize the sisterly counties relationship. We will make sure security forces will be deployed to those areas which were used by the bandits,” he said.
However, when asked whether the youths have links with the armed opposition forces, he denied that and confirmed the youths left from areas under the government’s control.
“You know these youths were from Mayom, they have no link with any SPLA-IO, but they were motivated by their individual interest and go to raid cattle from other community,” he said.
Ruon Machar Turoal a resident of Rubkotna county, has blamed officials from both counties for failing to maintain law and order. He said cattle raiding was common in triangle states of Lakes, Unity and Warrap, but added that the practice has increased among the Nuer of Unity state after the violent conflict erupted in the country two years ago.
“You know I blamed [it] on the governor of Unity state who has failed to control those raiders from the attacks. Most of the youths were convinced to go and attack others to go and take cows in order to pave way for government forces to push out opposition in some areas in Unity State,” he said.
He also accused the government for encouraging them to go and raid cows and abduct girls and women in southern Unity state, an accusation which seemed to agree with the recent report by human rights bodies alleging that government forces were told to rape girls as a payment in kind for their delayed salaries.
However, it was not clear from the commissioner whether those raiders shall be tried in court, despite recovering of the cattle.
(ST)