Six Killed, 20 injured as civil clashes reduce village to ashes in South Sudan’s Warrap State
Six people have been killed while nearly 20 others seriously wounded following violent attacks unleashed by local militia in Ngapagok Payam within the Tonj East County of Warrap State.
The shattering violent attacks also reduced the heart of the community into ruins.
Armed youth from the Thiik community allegedly stormed into the hamlet, setting fire to half of the local market premises and shooting indiscriminately.
According to one of the affected villagers, Lueth Anet, the assault forced terrified residents, many still in their beds, to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
Families were forced to flee from their homes, leaving behind everything they owned as flames razed down stores, shops and market stalls, as well as nearby homes in the once tranquil community.
“Six people were killed in Ngapagok this morning, with various market stalls and shops reduced to ashes,” Lueth Anet recounted, his voice heavy with the weight of the loss.
For the people of Ngapagok, these latest series of attacks add salt to their injuries.
The market, now a smoldering ruin, was more than a place to buy goods; the setup was essentially a cultural meeting place, where mothers bartered for food to feed their children, where neighbors shared stories, and where hope for a better day lingered.
So far six people have been reported dead, with more than 17 others injured though sources from Ngapagok add that many other residents have gone missing. It is not known whether the missing persons are dead, alive or injured.
Tonj East County has long been a hotspot for civil clashes, often sparked by cattle rustling and cycles of retaliatory attacks that have claimed thousands of lives over the years.
Despite peace efforts, including a November 2024 agreement between the Thiik, Luacjang, and Akok Deng Achuil communities, the promise of stability remains fragile. Saturday’s attack is a painful reminder of the challenges that persist, as families are once again displaced, their livelihoods reduced to ash.
By the time local authorities intervened to intercept the chaos, the attackers had already killed, maimed and caused great damage.
As the sun rose over Ngapagok, residents returned to a scene of devastation, grappling with the question of how to salvage and rebuild their trading center.
The Warrap State government has faced similar crises before, deploying forces to quell violence, but the root causes competition over resources, unresolved grievances, and the weight of history continue to fuel these tragedies.