Warrap State: An assault by Lou Paher community and Thiik community on Luany-Jang village got 27 killed, 29 wounded

The state communications minister, Riing Deng Ading, said that armed youth from the Lou Paher community in Tonj North County joined forces with youth from the Thiik community in Tonj East to assault the Luany-Jang village.

State officials in the restive Warrap State have reported that two days of communal violence in Romathieng village, Tonj East County, resulted in the deaths of 27 persons and the wounding of 29 others.

On Sunday and Monday 16 August, violent confrontations occurred between the villages of Luany-Jang in Tonj East County, Lou Paher in Tonj North County, and Thiik in Tonj East County, which joined up with Lou Paher to plunder livestock belonging to the Luach Community.

“The battle between the villages of Luany-Jang, Lou Paher, and Thiik claimed 27 lives on both sides. In two days of warfare, the Luany-Jang community lost 19 members, Thiik lost 4, and Lou Paher lost 4. 29 individuals were injured on both sides, including 15 from Luany Jang, six from Lou Paher, and eight from the Thiik village “Deng, Minister, said.

He said that the state administration convened an emergency meeting to address the unrest and denounced the tragic event that claimed innocent civilian life.

Deng Kok, the commissioner of Tonj East County, stated that violence occurred at Romathieng when armed youth from Lou Paher and Thiik invaded the Luany-Jang hamlet and stole over 100 head of livestock.

“Last Sunday, there was violence, which resumed on Monday, 16 August, when over 120 livestock were seized by Lou Paher and Thiik armed youngsters from the Luany-Jang community,” Commissioner Kok said. “When the livestock owners pursued the raiders, they were ambushed, and combat began at 4 p.m. until it became too dark for them to see.”

He continued: “On my side (Tonj East County), three people were murdered and four were injured in Sunday’s event, and the death toll increased to 19 on Monday. Two people were killed on the Thiik side. Tonj East County recorded a total of 21 fatalities and 24 severe injuries.”

According to Kok, the injured required immediate medical care due to a lack of medications at the health facility to which they were sent.

“No, they do not have access to medical treatment. They were abandoned at the county’s Primary Health Care Center without medication, but I am in contact with the Red Cross to arrange for their transportation to a hospital for further care “‘He said.

Commissioner Kok said that controlling instability in the region is difficult due to the county’s lack of police personnel and the distance between the SSPDF camps.

“The garrison of the SSPDF is located in Thiet, five kilometres from the incident, and I lack police officers to act. Since I took office in March, I’ve had just one bodyguard, and I’ve been pleading with the state administration to give me reinforcements, but they haven’t responded. This is the position in which I find myself “Kok bemoaned.

Kuol Akoon, the Tonj North County commissioner, acknowledged that his side suffered four fatalities in the fighting.

“According to the information I have, Marial Lou Payam lost four people during the fight, and I am still awaiting additional reports because fighting has continued since yesterday (Sunday) and our intervention is to go with forces because the acting governor has stated that he will meet with us at Luony-Akeer to discuss the matter,” Commissioner Akoon said.