Four people killed, 300 cattle raided in Nimule

At least four people were killed, and 300 cattle were raided in Nimule on Friday by a group of unidentified armed raiders.

The group attacked a cattle camp in Jele, a suburb of Nimule town, and raided 300 cattle.

Speaking to The City Review yesterday, Malcom Madol, who is a chief at Nimule border, confirmed the incident and said the cattle keepers were attacked by armed youth.

“It was at around 9 pm that a group of youth came and attacked the cattle keepers at the cattle camp. They killed four people and took 300 cattle with them, “Madol said.

“Right now we don’t have any idea where they (attackers) are heading to, “he added.

When contacted, the town clerk of Nimule denied any knowledge about the raid, saying he had no idea about the issue.

He said he had called for an emergency meeting with other authorities in Nimule to find out what happened exactly.

Insecurity fears

On February 19, 2022, the Governor of Eastern Equatoria, Louis Lobong Lojore, visited Magwi County, where there had been an influx of cattle that sparked security concerns in the areas of Opari, Pageri, and Agoro.

After citizens had raised concerns about human rights violations by the herders, Lobong went to speak to the cattle keepers.

He urged the cattle keepers to respect local communities and stop encroaching on their farms.

The chief of the large cattle camp in Opari, Abraham Kur, said they moved to Magwi in search of water.

“We have not come here by force. The condition of the cattle made us come this far in search of water and grass. When the first rains come, we will go back to Lobonok and Jonglei, [which are] our home states”.

Cattle herders from Jonglei State’s Bor and other states have always clashed with farmers in Equatoria region over grazing territory.

In March, the administration of Magwi County in Eastern Equatoria State said more than 14,000 people were sheltering in Magwi town after being displaced by cattle keepers from Agoro-Chomboro and Amee.

The town began to witness the influx of IDPs after a group of armed cattle keepers ambushed a group of youth who were bathing at a water point and started shooting at them. There has been an influx of animals in areas of Agoro, Amee, and Pageri of Magwi County that has created fear among the host communities.

But since then, tensions in the area have significantly decreased following the withdrawal of the cattle keepers.

This was after the legislators from Magwi County petitioned President Salva Kiir to order the evacuation of cattle in the area to allow the villagers to cultivate freely and avoid confrontation.

Despite the 2017 presidential order for the evacuation of cattle from the Equatoria region, an influx of cattle has increasingly been seen in the region.

The Governor of Eastern Equatoria, Louis Lobong Lojore, has urged traders in the state to embrace transparency and ensure that ordinary citizens have equal access to goods in the state.

He said the traders must charge fairly to bring everyone on board to buy their goods.

“I admire your efforts to promote peace in the state through your Muslim faith, and especially since we know the majority of you are business people, you restrained our people from obtaining things of their choice through your good company.”

“But, most significantly, I want to encourage you to promote justice in your enterprises, particularly in your interactions with clients daily, “he said.

“Let us be the guardians of our brothers and sisters. Let us maintain the state’s security by requiring everyone to purchase something from the market, “Governor Lobong acknowledged.

He was addressing the Muslim faithful at the State House in Torit on Friday during a one-day breakfast supper.

Governor Lobong advised the traders in Torit and other counties to open up stores to services closer to the people.

“All I was asking of you was to ensure that everyone in the state has equal purchasing power, and by doing so, you would have made a significant contribution to bringing services to our people,” he added.

According to Lobong, everyone in the country has a responsibility to do their part to assist the government in providing good services to citizens.

“Yes, it is our obligation as a government to safeguard entrepreneurs, and it is the responsibility of business people to protect their buyers,” he said.

However, he emphasised his commitment to preserving business by maintaining peace in the state.

Lobong urged traders in the state to be patient as the government works to find a solution to the problems they are experiencing.

Embrace peace

Also, the Governor appealed to the Muslim community to spread the message of peace, love, unity, and reconciliation in the state.

He praised the citizens for their religious tolerance and urged them to cultivate a culture of hard work, respect, and discipline.

“Let’s work together to help our people grow into responsible citizens who are productive and self-sufficient. “We should be able to live without relying on aid and food imports,” Lobong said.