At least 14 people were killed, including six children, in a cattle raid in northern South Sudan, a local official told AFP on Wednesday.

The deadly attack struck late on Tuesday in Padang Payam in Unity State.

"There was an attack launched by armed youth criminals from Ruweng Administrative Area, and they ended up killing at least 14 people as of this morning, including six children, six men, one woman and a teenage girl," Unity State Information Minister Nyakenya Johannes Keah said, adding that the toll could rise.

Around 200 cattle were stolen during the attack and taken to Ruweng, she added.

Report warns of possible violent attacks in Jonglei state

An information minister for Ruweng Administrative Area, Salva Nyok, rejected the allegations in a call with AFP.

An internal security report from Monday, seen by AFP, warned that young men were being mobilised for cattle raiding in Jonglei state, which has seen the worst of recent fighting between government and opposition forces.

"Although the stated objective is cattle raiding, there is a risk that any resulting violence could expand beyond local cattle-related disputes and draw in wider political and communal actors," the report said.