The caretaker Minister of Information in Ruweng Administrative Area, Tony Chol Ayat, says at least 11 people have been killed, hundreds of cattle raided and cattle camps burned in separate attacks and clashes in the area.
Ayat told Eye Radio that armed youth from Rubkona and Mayom counties in Unity State were allegedly behind the attacks in Ruweng on Monday night.
Authorities in Unity State have not responded to the allegations.
The minister said four people, including two men, a two-year-old girl and a young woman, were killed in one attack, during which 501 head of cattle were reportedly raided.
“Youth from Rubkona and Mayom counties in Unity State came to Ruweng Administrative Area, particularly Lake No and Alin counties. At around 11 p.m., they killed four people: two men, a two-year-old girl and a young woman who had a child. They also wounded two women and raided 501 head of cattle from a payam in Lake No County,” Ayat said.
In a separate incident, two more people were reportedly killed, 471 head of cattle raided and cattle camps burned.
Ayat said further clashes broke out on Monday morning when youth from the affected communities pursued the alleged attackers.
Three men were initially reported killed and four others wounded. Two of the wounded men later died in hospital, bringing the reported death toll to at least 11. Four people remain wounded, according to the minister.
“They also attacked Peshawar Buma in Adilang Payam, Alin County, killing two men and raiding 471 head of cattle. They later attacked the petroleum protection barracks in Yonglees. Clashes broke out the following morning, killing three more men and wounding four others. The wounded were taken to Pariang Referral Hospital, where two later died, bringing the death toll to 11, with four people wounded,” he said.
Ayat criticised what he described as delays by security forces in responding to the attacks.
He said the army command in Ruweng had declined their request to deploy forces to protect civilians.
“We, the government of Ruweng, when the incident occurred, we informed the protection unit, which is the army forces, to see what is happening. And in that process, there is a lot of delay from rescuing the civilians,” he stated.
“And as we are talking now the Brigadier General, who is the head of the Brigade of the army headquarter, is still now in the town with his forces. And that one should not be in that way,” he added.
The minister called on military headquarters to ensure deployed forces take full responsibility for protecting civilians and their property.
The latest violence comes months after an attack in March in Abiemnhom County, also in Ruweng Administrative Area, in which 169 people were reportedly killed.
The motive for the latest attacks remains unclear.
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