July 26, 2012 (KAMPALA) – Since the acting governor of Lakes state, Mabor Achol Kuer, issued a deadline to cattle rustlers in Cueibet county to return their spoils within three days 17 suspected thieves have been arrested.

Abraham Mayen Kuc, the commissioner of Rumbek Central County of Lakes state (ST)

State authorities mobilised a platoon of South Sudan Police Services and Sudan People Liberation Army troops, to return the cattle to their rightful owners.

On Monday, the commissioner of Rumbek Central county of Lakes state, Abraham Mayen Kuc, claimed that 17 persons suspected for being cattle-raiders were arrested and were being questioned in Rumbek prison.

He also added that “75 heads of stolen cattle are recovered and 17 people suspected of being cattle thieves were arrested”.

The recovery operation will continue for three weeks continuously. It will target Cueibet, Rumbek North, Rumbek East, Rumbek Central and Yirol West as well as Yirol East county.

Lakes State’s acting-governor Mabor Achol Kuer has asked security services, chiefs, and youth leaders were asked to cooperate with police to oversee that owners are reunited with their cattle.

Kuer made the announcement during a July 20 visit to Pagor payam [district], adding that the police would use the full force of the law against anyone who did not handover the cattle they had stolen.

Commissioner of Cueibet County Isaac Mayom Malek, said the police had the capacity to combat insecurity. He said the police would arrest those responsible in both the Wat and Ayel communities.

Independence day celebrations in Cueibet Count on 9 July had to be postponed due to the violence.

Cattle raiding is common among South Sudan’s pastoralist communities. Cows are often used to pay bride prices in the year-old country.

(ST)