Cattle Thief Apprehended in Warrap State
Authorities have detained a man accused of stealing 15 cows. The incident occurred in Mayom County, Unity State. The suspect was apprehended in Aweng Payam, Twic County of Warrap, after a week-long search.
The suspect allegedly fled with the livestock into Twic County. Mayom authorities alerted their counterparts across the border. Division 11 commander, Romea Atak Mangok, directed the recovery operation.
Recovery of Stolen Livestock
The operation led to the arrest of the suspect. All 15 cows were successfully recovered. Mangok emphasized the need for peaceful relations between communities. He stated that the suspect would face legal consequences for his actions.
“We have detained the suspect, and the cows are with us after being notified by Mayom authorities. We need peace dividends to yield fruit. Such elements fuel problems between the two communities, and we will make sure he serves a jail term according to the law,” Mangok stated.
Controversial Handover of Cattle
The cattle were handed over to Gai Machiek. Machiek is the Aweng spiritual leader. This handover reportedly occurred under instruction from Mayom County officials.
“The officials in Mayom county told us to hand over the cows to Gai-Machiek, the spiritual leader, although we don’t know his background or allegiance to the cattle owners,” Mangok added.
Background of Gai Machiek
Machiek is a well-known spiritual figure in Twic County. He reportedly fled from Mayom years ago. There are beliefs that he was involved in spiritual rituals linked to communal conflicts.
Some locals allege that Machiek has played a role in tensions between Twic and Abyei communities. National authorities previously ordered Machiek to leave Twic, aiming to ease conflicts. This request faced strong opposition from local communities.
