A cattle trader was killed and 29 cows raided in two separate attacks carried out by a group of armed men in Duk County of Jonglei State on Sunday, a local official said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Monday, Elijah Manyok Ayiei, the acting Duk County commissioner, said, “In the first incident, 11 cows belonging to a person called Thon Ding Duot was stolen while at a grazing area on the outskirts of the Pobokoi area, Duk Padiet town."

He added, "On the same day, a cattle trader identified as Atem Kuer Atem was intercepted with his 18 cows between the areas of Pagak and Padiet. The criminals killed the trader and took his cows.”

Manyok accused armed youth from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) of the attacks and called for an intervention from the government.

For his part, John Mawut Ngang, the state police spokesperson, said the area is calm despite the incident. He pointed out that they were unable to immediately intervene because the incidents took place in the bushes far from the police station.

Abraham Longole, a lawmaker in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area legislative assembly, denied knowledge of the incident and said they are equally committed to peace in greater Jonglei.