John Mabil Alier Mayen, the MP representing Baidit Payam, issued a statement on Thursday following a raid allegedly carried out by armed criminals believed to have come from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
According to local reports, the attackers stole approximately 3,000 head of cattle in the early hours of Tuesday morning and killed dozens of other livestock.
Mayen described the incident as more than ordinary banditry, calling it a serious blow to both livelihoods and ongoing peace efforts in the region.
“Armed criminals launched a violent raid, resulting in the theft of thousands of cattle, the primary livelihood of our community,” he said. “By stripping the Baidit community of their assets, these criminals are consigning families to poverty.”
He further characterised the raid as a “direct assault on the spirit of the Peace Agreement” and a “blatant violation of the social contract” between neighbouring communities.
Local leaders have warned that repeated attacks risk pulling Greater Jonglei back into a cycle of retaliatory violence.
While acknowledging the leadership of GPAA Chief Administrator Gola Boyoi Gola, the MP stressed that urgent action is required to prevent escalation.
He appealed for the immediate deployment of security forces to intercept the raiders and recover the stolen cattle, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, and a monitored process to return the livestock to their rightful owners.
“Impunity is the fuel that keeps these raids burning; only prosecution will serve as a deterrent,” Mayen emphasised.
Despite the scale of the attack, Mayen said the people of Baidit remain committed to non-violence and peaceful coexistence.
However, he urged the GPAA administration to act swiftly to safeguard what he called the region’s fragile peace.
“Let us choose the path of cooperation and the rule of law over the chaos of criminal enterprise,” he said.
The cattle raid has heightened concerns about security in Jonglei State, where livestock theft has long been a source of tension between communities. Authorities have not yet announced any arrests in connection with the incident.
