Commissioner: Armed Cattle Raiders and Criminal Gangs Remain Security Threat in Yei

(YEI RIVER COUNTY)– The Commissioner of Yei River County, Emmanuel Taban Seme, says the continued presence of armed cattle raiders and criminal gangs remains a major security concern affecting communities across the county.

Speaking to county councilors during the reopening of the Yei River County Legislative Council, Commissioner Seme urged members of the council to work closely with the executive to develop local solutions to address the ongoing security challenges facing the county in recent months.

Commenting on the issue of nighttime attacks in residential areas, the commissioner said some of the perpetrators are young people from within the community who are being sheltered by relatives.

“Some of these individuals involved in attacks at night are our own sons and daughters who are being harbored by their families. Some residents complain that they are raising children who lost their fathers in the bush during the war, and now these same youths threaten people with pangas in their own homes. Should the commissioner allow them to continue harming people, or should they be brought before the law?” he asked.

On the issue of cattle raiding, Seme noted that despite peace dialogues held with cattle keepers from Bor County in Jonglei State and Terekeka County, the resolutions reached during those meetings have not yet been implemented on the ground.

He explained that armed cattle herders operating in the bush often do not follow the agreements reached by community leaders or cattle owners who reside in Juba.

“The second major issue we discussed during conferences in Juba is the presence of armed cattle keepers from our brothers in Bor and Terekeka who have cattle camps in Yei. The challenge is the implementation of the resolutions agreed upon during those meetings. The armed cattle herders in the bush do not listen to these resolutions, and sometimes even the cattle owners who stay in Juba cannot control them,” he said.

The commissioner called on the county legislative council to pass resolutions that would help address the issue collectively and protect local farming communities.

“Together with the council, we need to pass resolutions that will help us address this problem collectively so that we can protect and support our local communities,” he added.

Commissioner Seme made the remarks during the reopening and inauguration of the Yei River County Transitional Legislative Council held at the County Headquarters on Friday.