By Hou Akot Hou
Residents of Wun-Kur Village in Turalei Payam have reported the loss of 40 head of cattle after unknown cattle raiders allegedly drove away the animals during the early hours of Monday morning.
The incident reportedly occurred at around 3:00 a.m. when the cattle owners discovered that the animals, which had been tied to pegs with ropes on a farm, were missing.
Residents said the raiders untied the cattle and led them away while people were sleeping.
According to one of the cattle owners, Madam Yar Ngong, the stolen cattle were part of a larger herd that had recently returned from swampy grazing areas where they had been kept during the dry season.
She explained that the animals had come back to Turalei and were being kept in a farm to provide manure. The cattle were tied securely with ropes and pegs before the owners retired for the night.
“What happened on Monday night around 3:00 a.m. is that the cattle were kept on the farm after they left other herds from the area where there is greener pasture. We put them at the farm to get manure, and during the night the raiders came and took them,” Ngong said.
She said the stolen animals consisted of 36 female cows and four bullocks.
Ngong added that local youth immediately launched efforts to trace the missing cattle and identify those responsible for the raid.
However, no information had been obtained regarding the whereabouts of the animals by the time of reporting.
In response to the incident, the police inspector at Turalei Police Station, Mr. Joseph Mayen, confirmed that authorities had received and recorded the case.
He described the incident as unusual, noting that the cattle were taken while residents were asleep.
“We have recorded the incident and are working hard to ensure that the potential raiders of our neighbours are notified through the relevant authorities so that the cows are brought back peacefully, as we have done on some occasions,” Mayen said.
The police official urged residents, particularly those living near areas vulnerable to conflict, to remain vigilant and take measures to protect their livestock.
“People should avoid sleeping deeply and should monitor their animals because they are often the source of conflict in these areas. Residents should also alert the local authorities whenever such incidents occur,” he advised.
The latest cattle raid comes at a time when local conflicts continue to affect many parts of Greater Warrap and neighbouring communities.
Peace advocates have repeatedly called on residents to embrace messages of peace, coexistence, and dialogue, warning that confrontations often result in loss and suffering for communities.
Meanwhile, attention remains focused on the ongoing visits by the president to various states across the country.
Some residents believe the visits could lead to new directives being issued to governors, including the possible strengthening of state of emergency measures aimed at addressing insecurity and cattle-related conflicts in the region.
Authorities have not yet identified the perpetrators, and efforts to recover the stolen cattle remain ongoing.