Mothers trained by SAADO in Mangalla attend to their nursery beds as they plan to move the seedlings to the seedbed in March 2021. Credit| Smile Again Africa Development Organization/Facebook

At least two people have reportedly been killed by suspected cattle herders in Mangalla Payam, Juba County of Central Equatoria State.

The two people were attacked and killed in Mankaro and Gabor villages of Mangalla Payam on Friday.

This is according to Steven Legge, the acting chairperson of Mankaro Community Development Association.

He told Eye Radio on Sunday morning that fighting erupted after locals accused some cattle keepers from the IDP camp in Mangalla of leading their cows to farmlands.

Steven says locals the area have often complained of their farm fields being invaded by the cattle in the area.

The deceased were identified as John Tabuk, aged 28, and James, in his 20s.

Three other people were also wounded in the fight and they are receiving medical care at Juba Teaching Hospital.

They include, Tadeyo Laku, Paulino Loku and Samuel Soka Elias.

“A group of cattle keepers from Internally Displaced Persons camp in Mangalla Payam came to Mankaro village to graze their cattle where  the cattle ate the crops and even destroyed the farms of people in Mankaro village,” said the acting chairperson Mankaro community.

“When they [cattle keepers] were asked to move away their cattle, they responded by attacking and shooting on youth in which it resulted to displacement of people and loss of lives and destruction of properties.”

“The people who were killed are two and then we have three injuries. So this is what happened.”

Steven also appealed to the state government to respond to the situation in Mangalla Payam.