An armed cattle keeper walks with his cows during a seasonal migration of cattle for grazing near Tonj, South Sudan, Feb. 16, 2020. | Photo credit: VOA

A government official in Warrap State said three people went missing and more than 200 cattle were raided in Tonj South County, by armed youth suspected to have come from Cueibet County in Lakes State.

Warrap State information minister William Wol Mayom said the cattle were stolen while grazing in the Kolchok area at around 9 AM on Friday.

He stated that the raiders were pursued by security forces led by Tonj South Commissioner, but they were beyond reach.

The official also confirmed that three people; one identified as the owner of the cows and two security personnel are missing.

Speaking to Eye Radio on Sunday, Minister Wol said both Lakes and Warrap authorities have identified the raiders as armed youth from Cueibet County.

“On the tenth of this month at around 9 pm suspected armed youth from Cueibet County raided 235 cattle from a citizen of Tonj South County. The cattle raiding happened in a grazing area,” Wol said.

“After the county authorities heard of the information, the commissioner (of Tonj South) himself pursued the raiders in the bush where they drop the cattle through. It was unfortunate that the commissioner did not reach them.”

The official said both authorities from Warrap and Lakes have identified the raiders as youth from Cueibet County.

Wol said the commissioners of Cueibet and Tonj South are currently working to recover the raided cows.

“The commissioners are now addressing the issue working together they have five hundred cattle and put them in the government diary.”

“They will come and replace them with the cattle they have raided from the rightful owners. and we are planning that the government of the two states will dialogue to have peace.”