Up to 55 'missing' after gunmen attack in South Sudan

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan

Up to 55 people including women and children remain missing after being abducted Sunday by an armed group in the northeastern Boma State, a local official said Monday.

"There was an attack on Koschar village on Sunday night. We suspect the armed group to be from the neighboring Jonglei state," Boma State Information Minister Achon John Giro told Anadolu Agency on the phone.

Achon said that about 10,000 well-armed men were dressed in military uniform when they attacked the village.

"The attackers are wearing South Sudan army uniforms, and are heavily armed with military artillery and other big machine guns," Achon said.

The gunmen also stole about 21,000 herds of cattle, and are advancing toward Pibor, the state administrative area, he added, calling for urgent intervention of government forces and the UN peacekeeping mission in the country to save the civil population.

Tension has been cropping up since January between Jonglei and Boma states over the issue of cattle raiding, child abduction, mass rape and killing of civilians.

By Parach Mach

JUBA, South Sudan

Up to 55 people including women and children remain missing after being abducted Sunday by an armed group in the northeastern Boma State, a local official said Monday.

Achon said that about 10,000 well-armed men were dressed in military uniform when they attacked the village.

"The attackers are wearing South Sudan army uniforms, and are heavily armed with military artillery and other big machine guns," Achon said.

Tension has been cropping up since January between Jonglei and Boma states over the issue of cattle raiding, child abduction, mass rape and killing of civilians.