11 people killed as South Sudan raid Turkana

Locals accused security forces of failing to seal off the porous border to keep off the militia.

LODWAR: Tension is high along the Kenya-South Sudan border border point following the killing of 11 people in renewed clashes between Turkana herders and Sudanese Toposa militia.

The clashes were ignited by 100 heavily armed Toposa militia who raided a village in Mogila on Monday afternoon.

According to the Turkana West sub-county commissioner, the locals, who appeared to have prior information of the raid, waylaid the attackers and engaged them in a fierce gun fight that lasted more than six hours.

“They ambushed the raiders and shot dead nine of the attackers. Two Turkana herders were shot dead before the raiders escaped with dozens of cattle towards the border point,” Mr Dara said.

Mr Dara said the raiders managed to escape with an unknown number of cattle towards the South Sudan border, located about 20km from Lokichoggio town.

The commissioner said they had dispatched a contingent of security personnel along the Nadapal border to pursue the attackers.

Locals accused security forces of failing to seal off the porous border to keep off the militia.

Left impoverished

A resident, Lokol Epetet, who lost all his livestock to the raiders said they had been attacked severally but no help was forthcoming from the security personnel at the border point.

“I have lost two relatives in the attack. My animals have been stolen and I am now left impoverished. I appeal to the Government to help us recover our stolen animals,” Epetet said.

 Last month, raiders ambushed herders at Lopuskipi watering point in Mogila location. They injured two teenagers and stole 600 cattle.

Residents appealed to the Government to deploy more security forces along the Nadapal-South Sudan border.