Crime barricade tape. | Courtesy.

Police in Lakes State have contained fighting over five stolen cattle between owners from Rumbek Central and gunmen believed to be from Cueibet County that led to the death of 6 people and the wounding of 9 others.

Police spokesman, Maj. Elijah Mabor Makuac, said armed elements attacked a camp in Rumbek Center and looted five cows – prompting local youth to tail the raiders and engage in violence.

He said the cattle owners managed to recovered three livestock in the fighting that started at dawn and escalated to some villages before it was contained by government forces.

“This fighting was triggered by some armed criminals who went and stole 5 cows at Bal-Wau early in the morning at 3:00 AM. The cattle owners followed their cows to the direction of Makuek and Akur-Deu,” he said.

“After they reached the criminals, fighting took place with the cattle owners until they managed to recover 3 herd of cattle. Two cows went with the criminals and in this process, the fighting escalated and spread up to Gurmaar village.”

He said the fighting was contained by the security forces and traditional leaders and that the wounded were evacuated to hospital for treatment.

“Those wounded on the side of Cueibet were evacuated to Cueibet primary health care ( PHC) for medications, while those wounded on the side of Rumbek Centre were evacuated to Rumbek State hospital for treatment.”

Makuac said law enforcement officers have launched an investigation to identify culprits behind the fighting after which they will be arrested and prosecuted.

He said there was swift and large scale intervention coordinated from both local governments of Cueibet and Rumbek Center counties to quell the fighting.

“As we speak, the commissioners of both counties are still at the scene of fighting, looking for all these criminals who caused this conflicts to be apprehended. People were hoping that this year 2025 will be a year of peace, and harmony among our communities.”

Daniel Laat Kon, Coordinator for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization in Lakes State, condemned the incident and which he said wounded up to 18 people.

Mr. Laat expressed fears that a longstanding communal peace could be in jeopardy due to rising cases of armed violence, and urged a swift and strong government response to mitigate such cases.

“It is very unfortunate incident following an incident that happened in Aliet cattle camp of Yirol East County where 5 people were also lost.”

“As CEPO, we condemned this in strongest term possible, and we don’t need this situation to continue. We are calling on both communities to dialogue to address this issues and remain calm. The same thing to the incident in Yirol East here people fought themselves over a cattle camp.”