A police officer has been reportedly killed in a cattle-related
attack in Tonj South County, Warrap State.
The incident happened at Amethchok village during the
early morning hours of Wednesday.
Brig. Mawien identified the deceased as Sgt. Karsit Manyiel, 32.
who was killed during an attempt to recover the cattle
from the unknown raiders.
“The police officers were trying to rescue cattle when a
bullet hit Manyiel,” said Brig. Marko Mawien, inspector of police there, adding
that the rustlers managed to drive about 70 heads of cattle.
Cattle rustling is a common issue among the pastoralist
communities in South Sudan, mostly in Jonglei, Lakes, Warrap, and Eastern Equatoria
state.
Several studies found out that some of the causes of the
menace of cattle rustling and banditry is as a result of ungoverned space which
serves as hideouts for the criminals, weak security system, porosity of the
borders, and arms proliferations.
In addition, they suggest that youth raid animals in
order to meet pride price demands.