By Yang Ater Yang
Authorities in Rumbek North County confirmed that 7 people, including 3 soldiers from SSPDF, police, 2 children, and 2 women, were killed, and 6 others were wounded in an attempted cattle raid by suspected armed youths from the SPLM-IO rebels’ group from Panyijar County.
An SPLM-IO commissioner of Panyijar County categorically denied the allegations when contacted to confirm the cattle-raiding attack in Rumbek North County.
The attempted cattle raid took place at 12:47 a.m. on Wednesday morning in Maper, Rumbek North County’s headquarters.
The commissioner of Rumbek North County, Moses Maker Magok, told No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper on Wednesday that the attackers killed 2 children, 2 women and 3 soldiers from the SSPDF and South Sudan police service personnel at 12:47 a.m.
He said the attack displaced people on Wednesday night before Rumbek North County Gelwong’s armed youths from the Pakam community managed to recover their raided cattle.
He said the attackers are suspected youths and SPLM-IO rebels from neighboring Panyijar County.
“Pakam-armed youths and the organised forces have managed to recover the raided cattle,” he said, adding, “the attackers have been followed by the Pakam community youths.“
“Yes, an unspecified number of cattle were raided, but they have all been recovered by the youths and security personnel. Even now I am seeing Gelwong youths returning with recovered cattle back to Rumbek North County,” he said. “Yes, the people who have been killed are of three categories, and they include 1 SSPDF, 2 police soldiers, 2 children, and 2 women.”
He said that on the side of the attackers, some people have been killed, but not sure how many of them.
“The attackers were from Panyijar County of Unity State,” he said. “On the side of Panyijar County, you cannot differentiate between SPLM-IO and armed youths because both of them are doing one, and those who came to attack Rumbek North County are both elements of SPLM-IO rebels and Panyijar armed youths.”
The commissioner of Panyijar County of Unity State, Stephen Gai, denied involvement of Panyijar County armed youths in the deadly cattle attack that killed 7 people, including 2 children, 2 women, and 3 soldiers, in Rumbek North County.
“No, it is true that my county’s armed youths went and attacked Rumbek North County,” he said. “So, my friend, Rumbek North County is not only bordered by Panyijar County. Rumbek North County is bordered by Mayiandit, Leer, and Koch,” he added.
He said now the youths didn’t move out, but you can check out Mayiandit, Koch, and Leer Counties; maybe the armed youths from those locations have travelled to that location of Rumbek North County.
“No, please. Let Rumbek North County verify the information first. They cannot finger-point at the youths from Panyijar County, but let them verify the information,” he said. “I am confident my youths did not go to Rumbek North,” he continued.