At least eight people were reportedly killed and eight others injured in a deadly raid on a cattle market in Mogiri village, located just outside South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Tuesday evening.
The attackers, believed to be unidentified armed men, struck around 7:30 PM, targeting traders, mainly from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area who had temporarily set up camp to sell livestock.
In the chaos, more than 3,000 head of cattle were looted, according to local officials.
“The identity of the attackers is unknown, but this incident is part of a worrying pattern,” said Jacob Werchum Juok, Minister of Information for Greater Pibor.
Eyewitnesses described the assault as coordinated and swift, with gunmen fleeing the scene toward the Mangalla area, a known route for armed groups and cattle rustlers.
Authorities believe the motive may be tied to the growing trend of commercial cattle raids.
The cattle market in Mogiri was operating without formal recognition or security oversight, a factor that officials now say contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
“The market was unofficial and lacked proper security,” said Jacob Aligo, Central Equatoria State Minister of Information.
Tuesday’s raid has sparked concern over the safety of livestock traders who often operate in rural or peri-urban areas without protection.
Many traders travel long distances and camp in open fields, vulnerable to ambushes and looting.
Mogiri, once a quiet village southeast of Juba, is now drawing attention as a potential emerging hotspot for armed crime, including highway robberies and cattle-related violence.
As families mourn the loss of lives and livelihoods, local leaders are calling for urgent intervention to improve rural security and regulate cattle trade hubs across Central Equatoria.
