A cattle raid in Otallo, an area in Pochalla County of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), has resulted in the deaths of five civilians and injuries to four others. The attack, which began on Friday afternoon and resumed on Saturday morning, has heightened fears among residents. Local officials and residents reported that the raid occurred near the palace of King Akway Agada Akway Cham of the Anyuak Nyiodolla Royal Dynasty.
According to Lt Col Amat Ochan, the county police inspector, the attack was carried out by armed men from the neighbouring Murle community. The victims have been identified as Ojulu Olok Opiew, Didimo Ochalla Didimo, Odhiang Ochalla, Obang Owar, and Omot Ochalla Didimo. Three of the victims were members of the same family. The police inspector also identified the four wounded as Thwol Omot Ochalla, Gugo Onyango, Okumo Ochalla Othay, and Ochan Ogut Othay.
Two of the injured were also members of the same family and had been taken to neighbouring Ethiopia after receiving initial treatment at Pochalla Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC). Lt Col Ochan reported that all the cattle stolen during the raid had been recovered, and a mobile phone believed to belong to one of the attackers had been recovered at the scene. The phone contained names that indicated the attackers were of Murle ethnicity.
Othow Okoti, a former local official and activist, condemned the attack and stated that two of the four wounded people were in critical condition. He added that they had been evacuated outside the county for further medical treatment. The injured were initially taken to a health facility in Pochalla town, and efforts to evacuate them to Juba by the Red Cross were unsuccessful due to a lack of available admission space.
The evacuation to neighbouring Ethiopia was undertaken after the Red Cross's efforts to secure space in Juba were unsuccessful. Okoti's statement highlights the challenges faced by the local community in accessing medical care, particularly in emergency situations. The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the region and the impact on local residents.
Lt Col Ochan stated that detectives would investigate the recovered phone to establish further details about the assailants. The police inspector's comments suggest that the authorities are working to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The recovery of the phone and the identification of the attackers' ethnicity are significant developments in the investigation.
The attack in Pochalla County has resulted in a significant loss of life and has raised concerns about the security situation in the region. The incident highlights the need for improved security measures and better access to medical care for local residents. Key developments in the incident include the recovery of the stolen cattle and the identification of the attackers.
Key points
- Five civilians were killed and four others wounded in a cattle raid by armed assailants in Pochalla County.
- The attack was carried out by armed men from the neighbouring Murle community, according to local officials.
- The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the region and the impact on local residents.
