A herd of cattle in Bor County, Jonglei State. [Gurtong/ Gabriel Mayom]
By Gabriel Mayom
JUBA, 18 June 2012 [Gurtong] – The Manyabol Boma leader Simon Reuben Nyalang told Gurtong that his community has so far lost over 1,610 heads of cattle even as disarmament continued in the area.
He lamented that despite reporting the issue to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) colonel in the district, nothing has been done.
“I have reported about the cattle thefts, including my own, but nobody has even bothered to help”, said Nyalang.
In reaction, the SPLA commander in charge of disarmament forces in Manyabol Colonel James Nhial Nyang dismissed the allegations as untrue.
He said his office has so far received one report, but efforts to return stolen cattle were hampered by impassable roads occasioned by rains.
Colonel Nyang appealed to the local youth to desist from cattle rustling and instead engage in activities that would enhance development.