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 wounded in attempted cattle raiding by the suspected armed youths with SPLM-IO rebels’ group from Panyijar county. An allegations SPLM-IO commissioner of Panyijar county categorically denied when contacted to confirm the cattle raiding attacked in Rumbek North County.
The attempted cattle raid attacked took place at 12:47 a.m. in Maper, Rumbek North County headquarters on Wednesday morning.
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 SSPDF and South Sudan police service personnel at 12:47 a.m.
He said the attacked displaced people on Wednesday night before Rumbek North County Gelwong armed youths from Pakam community managed to recover their raided cattle.
He said the attackers are suspected youths and SPLM-IO rebels’ group from neighboring Panyijar county.
“Pakam armed youths and the organized forces have managed to recover the raided cattle”, he said. “The attackers have been followed by the Pakam community youths.“
“Yes, 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 retuning back 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 soldier, 2 children and 2 women”.
He said on the side of the attackers there are people who 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 can not 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 element 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 armed youths went and attacked Rumbek North County” he said. “So, my friend, Rumbek North County is not only bordered with Panyijar county. Rumbek North County is bordered with Mayiandit, Leer and Koch,” he added.
He said now the youths didn’t move out but you can check out from 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 can not finger point at the youths from Panyijar county but let them verified the information” he said. “I am confident, my youths did not go to Rumbek North,” he continued.