KUAJOK – Three people have been killed during a violent cattle raid in Lol-Ariath village in Turalei Payam, Twic County of South Sudan’s Warrap State, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
According to the Acting Executive Director in the Commissioner’s Office, Joseph Kuot Wol, who spoke to Sudans Post via phone, the incident occurred around midnight on Sunday, 21 June 2026, in a swampy grazing area locally known as Toich. Armed raiders reportedly stormed the cattle camp under the cover of darkness and quickly overwhelmed herders who were guarding the livestock.
Kuot explained that the attackers managed to seize a large number of cattle during the raid, sparking a gunfire exchange between the raiders and the cattle owners. During the confrontation, three people were killed on the spot, including some of the attackers, while several others sustained injuries.
The deceased have been identified as Malual Deng Mawuot and Atak Deng Atak. The identity of the third victim has not yet been established by authorities. In addition to the fatalities, another victim, identified as Duot Makou, sustained a serious thigh injury.
Other injured individuals are reported to be receiving treatment for gunshot wounds, including fractures.
“What happened is that the raiders attacked from Toich with full force. They overpowered the cattle owners and drove away with the cattle,” Kuot stated.
He also attributed the incident partly to what he described as negligence by cattle owners, saying authorities had repeatedly warned herders to regroup and avoid staying isolated in remote grazing areas. According to him, scattered cattle camps make herders more vulnerable to organized attacks.
“We have been telling them to group so they do not stay alone with their cattle. Grouping helps deter raiders,” he added.
Kuot further noted that the delayed response from security forces was influenced by the long distance between the affected area and the nearest law enforcement positions, which made timely intervention difficult.
Authorities also confirmed that a similar incident occurred on Friday in another part of Turalei Payam, where raiders reportedly stole 53 head of cattle.
Cattle raiding has remained a recurring security challenge in parts of Greater Warrap and neighbouring areas, often triggering cycles of revenge attacks. Local authorities continue to urge communities to respect the rule of law and avoid retaliatory violence, which they say worsens insecurity in the region.
In a separate but related incident, police in Tonj East County are pursuing suspects involved in a deadly attack that left a family of three dead and a five-day-old infant critically injured.
According to Police Inspector Sergeant Deng Akuen, the attack occurred at around midnight on Saturday at Thiok-Kuel cattle camp. Armed assailants reportedly opened fire on a family, killing both parents and their elder daughter at the scene. A five-day-old baby boy survived the attack but sustained severe head injuries.
The infant is currently receiving emergency medical care at a hospital in Tonj South County, where doctors are working to stabilize his condition.
“The mother, father, and their older daughter were killed at Thiok-Kuel cattle camp. The suspect remains at large,” Sgt. Deng said.
He appealed to residents to assist authorities with any information that could help locate the attackers and ensure the child receives continued support during recovery.
As cattle raids and revenge killings continue to affect communities across Greater Tonj, Gogrial, and Twic areas, authorities say restoring calm remains a major challenge. They have repeatedly urged cattle keepers to avoid isolation, strengthen communal protection, and rely on formal security mechanisms rather than retaliatory action.
Despite these appeals, insecurity linked to cattle rustling continues to destabilise parts of Warrap State, with communities frequently accusing neighbouring groups of cross-border livestock theft and retaliatory violence.
