By Cecilia John Akile Soghair
Farmers in Western Bahr el Ghazal State are calling for justice following an armed attack in the Khor Malang area of Wau over the weekend, which left several people with gunshot injuries amid tensions reportedly linked to cattle grazing on farmland.
The victims, who are receiving treatment at Wau Teaching Hospital, recounted their experiences and appealed to the authorities to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.
Speaking to Voice of Hope Radio on Tuesday, 32-year-old Anthony Zachariah Akile, a farmer in Khor Malang, said the incident began after a disagreement involving young cattle herders. He said he and other community members intervened to calm the situation and urged the herders to keep their cattle away from cultivated farms.
Akile alleged that after returning to his farm, he encountered a group of armed men accompanied by several young boys, who attacked him. He said he was shot twice in the leg, sustaining serious injuries.
Another victim, 33-year-old Simon Fangrasio Gabriel, said he was working on his farm when he heard gunfire. He alleged that armed men later confronted him, accusing him of taking their cattle before shooting him.
Gabriel said he sustained two gunshot wounds to his arms and is currently undergoing treatment.
The Head of the Surgical Ward at Wau Teaching Hospital, Coleta Alex Juma, confirmed that three men were admitted following the Khor Malang incident.
She said one of the patients later left the hospital and did not return, while the remaining two continue to receive medical treatment. According to Juma, arrangements are being made to transfer the two patients to Juba for specialized medical care with support from the Red Cross Society, which will assist with transportation and treatment costs.
The injured farmers also claimed that a woman was shot during the incident, although they said they were unable to confirm her condition.
They appealed to the State Government to address recurring disputes over cattle migration and farmland use to prevent similar incidents in the future. They also urged communities to reject violence and promote peaceful coexistence, emphasizing that protecting lives and preserving peace is a shared responsibility.
Efforts by Voice of Hope Radio to obtain a response from the State authorities regarding the incident and the ongoing investigation were unsuccessful by the time of publication.