At least 12 people, including two women and two children, were killed and 17 others injured in an overnight assault by unidentified armed attackers in South Sudan, local media reported on Sunday.
The attack occurred around 1 a.m. in Lakes State, where the assailants opened fire indiscriminately on sleeping civilians, according to William Koji, the region’s acting Information Minister. Speaking to local news agency Aweil, Koji said the attackers are believed to be armed youths from neighboring counties in Unity State.
In addition to the casualties, the assailants also raided livestock, though some cattle were later recovered with assistance from the South Sudanese army.
Koji strongly condemned the violence and called on authorities in Unity State to take action against those responsible. “This is very serious,” he said. “We are urging our counterparts in Unity State to address the issue of armed youth raiding cattle and killing innocent civilians. We cannot cross from Lakes State into Unity State to apprehend them ourselves.”
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing.