The suspect allegedly intended to use the stolen livestock to fulfill his dowry obligations to his in-laws in neighboring Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, police said on Friday.
“We have apprehended the suspect, Bol Monydeng, who ran away with nine cows from his neighbors in Agukpiny village in Gogrial West County,” Thuc Wol Deng, the Gogrial West County Police Inspector, told Sudans Post in a phone interview.
“His two neighbors searched for him and spotted him in the market, alerting us to his presence,” he added.
Deng attributed the incident to the close proximity of the two states, which can facilitate criminal activities.
“Due to the closeness of the two neighboring communities, some unscrupulous individuals take advantage of this proximity to engage in immoral acts,” he said.
The suspect reportedly admitted to the theft, stating that he could not afford the 11 cows demanded by his in-laws as part of their marriage agreement.
He reportedly said the pressure from his in-laws, who are concerned about the lack of dowry and the birth of four children to the couple, may have led him to resort to theft.
Deng said the suspect will be presented to the court along with the two individuals whose cows he stole.
Cattle theft remains a significant issue in these communities, often leading to cattle raids and inter-communal violence, as livestock holds significant cultural and economic value.