The police departments in four counties of Warrap State each received a Toyota Landcruiser pickup on Tuesday.
These are Tonj North, Tonj East, Twic, and Gogrial East counties, which are prone to cattle-related attacks by rustlers from the alleged neighboring Unity State.
According to the National Police Service, which allocated the vehicles, police in the counties will now be able to respond to crime easily.
“The vehicles will help us in the counties of Twic, Tonj North, Tonj East and Gogrial East during dry season to reach the area of the incident faster,” Col Madut Anei, police inspector in Gogrial East County, told Mayardit FM on Tuesday.
Generally, cattle raiding has a long history in South Sudan. However, the vast supply of small arms in civilian hands has led to raids becoming more violent in recent years, according to reports.
In remote areas the South Sudan Police lack the capacity to protect communities and so many cattle herders keep arms to defend themselves.
Studies further argue that, expensive marriage/remarriage, revenge, pride, accumulation of wealth, poverty, joblessness, and trade in livestock to be the major causes of rustling.