The death toll from the Wednesday attack in Abara, and its surrounding in Magwi County raised to nine (9). The attackers who were cattle keepers from Bor, Jonglei state have been terrorizing and intimidating, looting properties, however, tension has been high since last Sunday after cattle keepers clashed with a group of unidentified cattle raiders which left at least 20 deaths from both sides. 

Wednesday late afternoon attack by Dinka Bor cattle keepers and men dressed in full attire of South Sudan People's Defense forces stormed Abara Boma in just like the blinking of an eye. 

According to the local authorities in Magwi more than 92 tukuls (local huts) were torched while, scores of the local community were injured, more than ten thousand people were uprooted from their homes and, they are in dire needs of humanitarian assistance. 

Local authorities in Magwi County appealed to humanitarian organizations to support the displaced families with both food and non-food items. 

Meanwhile, the invading cattle keeper throughout Thursday laid ambush stopping all buses and other vehicles coming from Juba and Nimule, asking all the passengers to identify themselves, people from Madi, and Acholi origins, eyewitness said the Dinka cattle keepers blamed the Sunday deadly attack as the work of the two peaceful communities. Those pulled out of the buses were beaten and taken away believed killed by the Dinka Bor Invaders.

Passengers using the Juba-Torit Road were stopped too, the herders there seem to be targeting people from Madi, Acholi, Lotugo/Latho, and Lokoya origins.  

The situation along the two major highways is tense and precarious for now, people from the above-mentioned tribes should take extra precautions while traveling along the two major highways. Please avoid using the two highways unless the vehicles are in the company of armed convoy escort and unless the journey is essential. 

Meanwhile, in Nimule, there are reports the army which is dominated by Dinka is distributing ammunition and firearms to illegal Dinka land occupiers in Nimule and Melijo, Mugali Payam. No one knows the reason behind the army distributing firearms to one ethnic group. 

Andrew Olweny 

SSLN