Three people were killed and two others injured in an attack by armed bandits in Twic East County of Jonglei State on Monday, local officials said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Tuesday, Twic East County commissioner Deng Mabeny said the incident occurred when the bandits attacked a floods-displaced camp in the Nyuak area on Monday evening.
“They launched an attack in the Malualgem area, a base for the displaced people along the Jonglei Canal at 5 pm, killing 3 people,” Commissioner Mabeny said. “2 others were injured and one of them is in critical condition and is being transferred to Bor on a speed boat.”
The local official said the attackers are suspected to have crossed from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
“The attackers were identified by the injured persons as GPAA youth in military uniforms. The motive of the attack is not clear but maybe they want to take children because there are no cattle there,” the commissioner added.
The Jonglei State police commissioner, Joseph Mayen Akoon, said security forces have been deployed to restore calm in the area but that no suspect was arrested.
For his part, Lokali Amae Bullen, the GPAA chief administrator, said he will investigate the incident.
“I heard of the incident but I cannot say whether or not our youth were involved. What I did is that I deployed traditional chiefs to the Nanaam area to see if our youth really crossed to that side,” he said.