Fresh attack leaves 24 people dead in Lakes state

Some of the civilians carry fire arms in South Sudan (Photo: Courtesy)

By Simon Deng

At least 24 people have been killed and two others wounded in another cattle raid in Cueibet County of Lakes states, Elijah Mabor Makuac, the Police spokesperson in the State has confirmed.

The Police official said the killings occurred at the Cattle camp at Gok County.

“Armed youth from Pakam in Rumbek North attacked Gok people at cattle camp called Makeer-Diam in Cueibet, Gok County. It was a cattle raiding so it has led to the killing of 24 people and two others wounded,” Makuac narrated. 

He added that the attackers were able to also raid an unspecified number of cattle.

Makuac revealed the Police have launched investigations into matter to apprehend the perpetrators as well as find out the raided cattle. 

“When perpetrators are identified then the arrest can be approached through their chiefs. Our people are well armed and even they are resisting government forces, we usually arrest them through their chiefs,” the Police official said.

On Monday, the South Sudan’s UN Chief disclosed to the United Nations Security Council in New York that the increasing inter-communal violence in South Sudan was obstructing the realization of durable and sustainable peace in the World’s youngest nation.

Mr. Nicholas Haysom said more than 80 percent of civilian casualties were attributed to inter-communal violence and community-based militias in the country. 

But the Police Chief in Lakes State affirmed that the biggest challenge was the presence of arms in the hands of the civilians. 

“The main problem triggering this situation is the present of arms in abundance in the hands of civilians and again our people have the culture of revenge. If one side wrongs the other immediately people resort to revenge killing,” said Makuac

In May, a new UN report on South revealed that the Country was characterized by high level of food insecurity, violence, and cattle raids.

The integrated food security phase Classification report indicated that 7.2 million people will remain acutely food insecure from April to July 2021 meanwhile 8.3 million People are still in need of food.