Dr. Angok Gordon Kuol, the Chairman of Bor Community in South Sudan - COURTESY

The Chairman of the Bor Community in Juba has called on Jonglei cattle keepers to stay calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands after 41 herders were tragically killed in a cattle raid attack in Magwi, Eastern Equatoria State.

Deadly violence erupted on Friday after criminal elements attacked cattle herders from Jonglei State camped in Nyolo village in Magwi County, according to multiple media reports.

In an interview with Eye Radio on Monday, Bor Community Chairperson Dr. Angok Gordon Kuol said the death toll which was first reported to be at 35, has now risen to 41 people and 65 others wounded.

Dr. Angok also said about a hundred went missing, many displaced and an unspecified number of cattle raided. Angok attributed the incident to Eastern Equatoria State jurisdiction.

“Up to now, the number of losses is 41 and others are not accounted for. Those who have reached the hospital are 65, these are people with serious injuries which needed medical attention,” he said.

However, Dr Angok is urging the cattle herders to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands.

“We are urging the cattle herders to remain calm, continue relocating, and try to avoid any retaliatory violence, so we are for peace, we fought together as South Sudanese to liberate this country.”

“It is also our responsibility as South Sudanese to work for peace. As we know, the peace we enjoy now is the result of the last peace agreement. We are for peace.”