The sub-counties of Nabwal, Lorengecora, Iriiri, and Matany in the Napak district and Kosike from Nabilatuk are experiencing resurfacing of cattle theft after enjoying a six-month peace break.
The sub-county leaders in the districts of Napak and
Nabilatuk have voiced their concerns over the resurgence of cattle thefts.
The affected sub-counties are Nabwal, Lorengecora, Iriiri, and Matany
in Napak district, and Kosike from Nabilatuk.
It is reported that the two communities of Napak and
Nabilatuk have resumed revenge attacks as the community from Kosike sub-county
is largely blamed for raiding the people of Napak district.
According to the leaders, the resurgence of armed cattle
rustlers is a matter of great concern that requires urgent action before the
insecurity escalates.
John Ogwal, the LCIII Chairperson of Nabwal Sub-county in
Napak district, said that they are experiencing some isolated cases of cattle
theft carried out by the armed warriors from the Nabilatuk district
Ogwal noted that the sub-county lies at the borderline of
three districts of Nabilatuk, Katakwi, and Nakapiripirit, which exposes them to
many criminals. He stated that the pastoralists from Nabilatuk district often
cross to Nabwal sub-county to graze livestock, but sometimes they end up
raiding the hosting community.
He also observed that there are some wrong elements from
within the Napak district who connive with warriors in Nabilatuk to raid cattle
that are sold to the traders. Ogwal expressed his worries that the warriors
sometimes cross to the neighbouring district of Katakwi to raid cows.
Ogwal revealed that the insecurity in his sub-county is
caused by collaborators from within the community who connive with other
raiders from other places to carry out raids.
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Francis Obed Lochoro, the LCIII Chairperson of Lorengecora
sub-county in Napak district, said that the warriors from Nabilatuk district
have continued disturbing the communities despite calls for peaceful
coexistence.
Lochoro said that the warriors attack during the night and
the morning hours when the people are preparing to go to the gardens. He said
that the security threats have discouraged people from using oxen for opening
up their field land since they are being targeted.
Lochoro defended his people, stating that they have fully
embraced peace after the disarmament program, and the community is looking
forward to agriculture. He said that the wrong elements from other communities
are now taking advantage of his vulnerable people to raid their livestock.
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Micah Onyang, the LCIII Chairperson of Kosike Sub County in
Nabilatuk district, said that the situation is getting worse as the raids are
turned into revenge attacks.
Onyang noted that the attacks always occur during the
cultivation seasons that start in March, as communities release their oxen for
ploughing.
Onyang said that the warriors always steal a small number of
cows, which are sold immediately, and the money is divided among the actors. He
said that tracing such cows has become difficult because the cows are sold and
transported out of the region.
Onyang explained that the revenge attacks from the
communities of Pain in Nabilatuk and Bokora in the Napak district have made it
difficult to achieve peace in the region.
He said that they are collaborating with the security forces
in recovering cows that are stolen cows, but the community tends to conceal the
information about those involved in the act.
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Emmanuel Lorika Longes, the LCIII Lorengedwat sub-county
in Nabilatuk district, said that he has been working closely with leaders from
other neighbouring sub-counties to ensure that there is no new formation of
warriors cropping up to start raiding.
Longes noted that they are managing to maintain the relative
peace realised by ensuring that the community reports any suspicion of wrongdoing
in the society.
Longes said that the security threats are mushrooming from
the sub-county of Kosike, and this calls for urgent intervention to contain them
before the situation gets out of hand.
