Juba, South Sudan, June 03, 2021 – At least one truck driver has been killed and 47 cows raided in an attack in Rumbek East County of Lakes State.
According to the authorities there, a truck driver ferrying cattle to the capital Juba was shot dead and had the cows taken from their vehicle.
The attack reportedly happened in Atiaba Payam in Rumbek East County according to sources familiar with the development.
Speaking to the media Thursday, Rumbek East County Police Chief Brigadier General Makur Dak said the victim only identified as Manut and an assistant driver sat on a trailer destined to Juba from Wau before he was shot and killed.
“There were 3 trucks loaded with cows from Wau in Western Bahr-el-Ghazal heading to Juba and the criminals followed one of them and managed to rob 47 cows and 9 goats,” the police chief said adding that investigations were ongoing.
“They were in a semi-trailer. Now we are trying to find out who the suspects are through local chiefs. They killed the assistant to the driver of the semi-trailer truck,” Dak said.
Dak said the people attacked had a police escort but it turned back when they journeyed through Cueibet, leaving the trucks to proceed unprotected. “That is when they fell into the ambush of the criminals,” he said.
Stephen Mathiang Deng Monydit, the Minister of Information in Lakes State, said Rumbek East County Commissioner was working hard to identify and apprehend the culprits.
“The criminals’ motive was to loot the truck carrying cattle which they did and they shot dead one of the drivers of the truck and they emptied the truck carrying cattle,” Mathiang said.
Mathian added that Arial-teen, Aluakluak, and Atiaba Payams in Lakes State are earmarked as crime hot spots infamous for looting and killings.
