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New cattle influx destroys 72 hectares of farmland in Magwi: commissioner

Author: Darlington Moses | Published: January 20, 2025

Some cattle grazing in agricultural land. (Photo: File/Courtesy).

Magwi County commissioner in Eastern Equatoria said more than 70 hectares of farmland were destroyed by roaming cattle allegedly from the neighboring Jonglei state in the last two days.

On January 13, Governor Louis Lobong directed Magwi authorities to investigate alleged presence of cattle in the area and report to the state government.

Magwi Commissioner Benjamin Pole-Pole has confirmed that the new influx of nearly 10,000 herds of cattle arrived in the area on January 18 through Iwire and Agoro payams.

Pole-Pole revealed that the herders allegedly from Jonglei are fully armed and possess donkeys carrying their belongings.

“Last Thursday, there were a huge number of cattle, up to 10,000 herd of cattle, moving also with donkeys. From the side of Agoro Payam in Nyolo Boma in Iwire Payam, there’s also a report of crossing of cattle,” he said.

“With these donkeys, we don’t know what they are carrying. And the men working after these cattle are heavily armed. In the crowd, we also see children and women.”

“Six farms of pigeon peas, the cassava, the grain have been seriously destroyed. That is a total of fidans calculated about 72 hectares for the six farmers. These cattle, according to the investigation we found these they are owned by the Jonglei people.”

Mr. Okot Sonic, the Head Chief of Agoro Payam reiterated that the new influx has created extensive damage to farmlands and security threats to the local populations.

He revealed that more herds of cattle were still being seen entering the areas with about 7 large kraals settled around their villages.

Okot said the community is counting on the government to intervene.

“People were home and by the time they were getting to their respective farmlands, they found out that their gardens have been consumed by the cattle. They settle near the settlement and as I’m talking now, I’m hearing the bulls mooing near homes.”

“The villagers have not reacted because they trust the government and wait for intervention. We talked the community members to stay put and wait for the government intervention. But people are in fear, people with children are trying to take them in safer places.”

For her part, Jongolei state minister of information Nyamar Lony Ngundeng said the authority in Jonglei is unaware of cattle from the state entering Magwi, but promises to inquire relevant information on the event.

“We don’t have updates regarding that incident or regarding the issue of the cattle right now. But I will get to the sources and then I’ll give you an update,” she briefly said.

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