Over 500 cattle stolen in Twic midnight raid

AWEIL – Authorities in Twic County of South Sudan’s Warrap State have reported that more than 500 head of cattle were raided in a late-night attack on Malual-Tor village in Turalei Payam, raising fresh concerns over persistent insecurity in the area.

The incident occurred at around 1:30 a.m. on Monday, when residents were asleep. According to Chief Ajing Malek Tor, who spoke to Mayardit FM in Twic County, the raiders struck quietly and with calculated precision.

“They came at about 1:30 in the morning and started cutting the ropes of the cows that were tied to pegs,” the chief recounted. “They managed to escape with over 500 cows. The youth are now pursuing them, but so far no one has identified who is behind the attack.”

Chief Malek described the operation as highly tactical. The attackers reportedly moved the cattle toward nearby swampy areas under the cover of darkness, making it difficult for residents to respond in time. By the time the community realised what was happening, the raiders had already fled with the livestock.

Local youth have since mobilised to track down the stolen animals, but no arrests or recoveries have been confirmed at the time of reporting.

The chief revealed that residents had earlier received warnings about the possible presence of raiders in the area, but the alerts were not acted upon. He expressed frustration that preventive measures were not taken despite the tips.

“Last week, a similar incident happened between Malual-Tor and Machar-Amuol, where 280 cows were looted,” he said. “Fortunately, the SSPDF managed to retrieve those animals.”

He urged residents to cooperate with authorities in Twic County and neighbouring Unity State, particularly Mayom County, to help trace and recover the stolen cattle.

Cattle raiding remains a recurring challenge in several parts of South Sudan, often fueled by armed youth groups locally known as Gelweng.

The cycle of revenge attacks and retaliatory raids has contributed to prolonged insecurity, leaving many communities increasingly doubtful about the ability of law enforcement agencies to curb the violence and protect livelihoods.