At least 9 people were killed and 14 others injured in a road ambush in Duk County in Jonglei State on Thursday, a local official said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Friday, Peter Latjor Chuol, the Duk County commissioner, said the incident occurred when a vehicle heading to the county’s Gadiang town was waylaid.
“The vehicle was carrying local government officials, civilians, and some members of security officers,” he said. “While the vehicle was about 30 minutes away from the town, it was attacked. 9 people were killed and 14 others injured.”
According to the commissioner, the attackers are suspected to be from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
“The attackers were about 300 in number and they came from Greater Pibor’s Nanaam area. After the attack, they ransacked the vehicle, he said, adding, “We call on GPAA authorities to rescue the situation because it will ruin the peace.”
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Chuol Peter, the director-general at the state information ministry, said they were still awaiting more information regarding the attack.
“Yesterday (Thursday) we had a vehicle that left from Bor and on reaching the Gadiang road it was attacked,” he said. “We are still gathering details of the incident.”
For his part, Abraham Kelang, the GPAA information minister, said they were not informed about the attack.
“We did not get this information. We will call our commissioners on the ground to find out if there was any youth group that left their counties,” he said. “Our Jonglei State counterparts have yet to communicate to us on this.”