Barricade tape for crime scene (Courtesy)

At least one person was killed on Thursday and another is missing in a cattle-related attack in Baliet County, Upper Nile state.

Baliet Commissioner Joseph Deng told Eye Radio the attack on Adoung village was carried out by armed cattle raiders allegedly from neighboring Jonglei state.

The incident occurred hours before the Governor of Upper Nile State James Odhok downplayed reports of potential militia attacks in the area.

“There were some armed men from Jonglei State who came to Baliet in the early morning hours yesterday (Thursday), they launched an attack and clashed in the area,” he said in a phone interview with Eye Radio from Baliet.

“Then they crossed the Sobat River and went to an area called Adoung, and because of the bad network connection we had in the past two days, they attacked Adoung and killed one person and another is missing so far.”

According to Deng, the cattle-raiding killed an elderly man and left another person, whom he did not identify, missing.

He further said that the assailants escaped with some stolen cattle.

Deng adds: “We don’t know if he is alive or dead and we are still looking for him.”

The official further said authorities have been working tirelessly to locate the missing person.