Barricade tape for crime scene (Courtesy)

A farmer and his pregnant wife were killed by armed bandits who attacked a village in Tonj South County of Warrap State on the weekend, the state government has confirmed.

Warrap Information Minister Wol Mayom said the incident occurred on Friday night at Manyang-ngok payam.

According to him, armed youth suspected to be from neighboring Lakes State surrounded the house of Machar Deng Yol before killing him and his expectant wife.

“Suspected armed Youth from Cuiebet surrounded the house of Machar Deng Wol people entered with guns and at gunpoint they  killed Machar Deng Yol and his pregnant wife,” said the minister.

Wol said security forces were sent after the perpetrators but failed to catch them.

“They left in the direction of Cuiebet county and the information was passed to the Tonj South County headquarters, the commissioner tried to send police forces to follow the suspected armed bandits but they were unable to be seen.”

He appealed to the government of Lakes State to apprehend the culprits and hold them accountable.

Efforts to reach the Lakes State government for a response were not successful.

This is the second attack blamed on armed men from neighboring Lakes State in one month.

On May 27, 2023, more than 40 cattle were raided in Tonj South County, by armed youth suspected to have come from Cueibet County, according to Warrap officials.

Lakes State government later launched a crackdown on the bandits in Cueibet and arrested one raider and recovered 15 heads of cattle which were returned to their owners.