Crops Trampled, Tempers Ignite in Aweil West
Riang-Angon village in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr El Ghazal felt the crackle of flames this week, after farmer Bol Ngor Bak allegedly torched two huts when roaming cattle trampled his sorghum and groundnuts.
Swift Police Detention of Suspect
Police inspector Atak Wol Kiir said officers captured Bak moments after villagers chased him across dusty lanes; the 50-year-old, now held in Aweil town for his own safety, reportedly offered no clear explanation during questioning.
Villagers Scramble to Rescue Livestock
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as neighbors rushed into the burning byre, pushing cows and goats into daylight while smoke billowed above the thatch, a sight many called unprecedented in their largely quiet payam.
Calls for Peaceful Dispute Mechanisms
Kiir reminded residents that crop damage cases should reach police desks, where compensation committees verify losses, instead of sparking vigilantism that endangers lives and property.
Traditional Leaders Stress Cattle Management
Local chiefs and elders, echoing state agriculture officers, urge herders to tether or supervise animals during the post-rainy season when farms stand vulnerable, hoping to avert clashes that can ripple far beyond a single field.
Outlook for Community Harmony
As investigators catalogue soot-blackened walls, many villagers express relief at the calm return; attention now shifts to formal mediation sessions that will weigh damages, assign restitution, and, leaders hope, rebuild trust among farmers and pastoralists.