Aweil counties shaken by unexplained bites
At least 17 people were injured over a weekend in separate attacks by an unidentified animal in Aweil West and Aweil North counties, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. The incidents have fuelled fear and renewed safety concerns, according to local officials and residents.
Market-day return turns risky in Udhum Payam
Local authorities said 16 victims were attacked on Saturday in Udhum Payam, Aweil West County, while walking home from a market day. The encounter happened in a bushy, swampy stretch known locally as Liil, at a place called Wunliet.
Colonel Atak Wol Kiir, the police inspector in Udhum Payam, said the victims were mostly women, along with one man. He told this publication the animal emerged from nearby bushes in the evening, then attacked before fleeing.
“The women were returning home late from the market when they reached a swampy area at Wunliet,” Kiir said. He added that the animal bit women and children at the scene, and one man was also bitten, while the animal was not clearly identified.
Health response focuses on rabies prevention
All injured victims were taken to health facilities for urgent care. Kiir said they received anti-rabies injections and were later discharged in stable condition, reflecting an emphasis on precautionary treatment after animal bites.
The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Ministry of Health also confirmed the incident. Luka Lual Aleu Jok, the state’s health education focal point, said the Udhum Payam victims were treated at Aweil Civil Hospital.
“It is true that 16 people were bitten by an unknown animal in Udhum Payam and rushed to Aweil Civil Hospital, where they were injected immediately,” Jok said. He added a woman in Nyin-Ameth, Aweil North County, was bitten in a similar case, bringing the total to 17.
Separate report cites suspected rabid dog in Wadwil
In a related development, residents in Wadwil Payam, Aweil West County, reported another incident. They said a suspected rabid dog allegedly bit several people on New Year’s Eve, adding to anxiety already stirred by the earlier attacks.
Security advice and ongoing investigations in Aweil
Authorities urged residents to avoid walking alone at night, especially through bushy or swampy areas, and to move in organised groups. While some community members speculated about other causes, officials stressed that wild or rabid animals remain a growing concern.
Local authorities said investigations are ongoing to identify the animal involved and prevent further attacks. Communities remain on alert as officials work to clarify what happened and reduce the risk of additional incidents.