An unidentified armed group has exchanged gunfire with police and military forces after it infiltrated the Nimule parking yard. The incident took place on Thursday at around 2 am.
Maj. David Khasmiro, the Police Inspector in Nimule town, told Radio Tamazuj that the group, numbering significantly, attempted to loot vehicles but clashed with on-duty police before escaping to an undisclosed location.
Major David Kasmiro reported no casualties during the incident. However, he mentioned that the armed group set fire to four tires of a fuel truck.
“At approximately 2:00 am, a group of armed individuals entered with the intention of damaging vehicles. Their mission was thwarted when they encountered on-duty soldiers. In response, they fired shots and set fire to the tires of a fuel truck, affecting only the four rear tires of one vehicle,” he said.
“The parking yard is expansive, and the stationed forces may sometimes not cover all areas simultaneously. While some areas are patrolled, opportunistic individuals may take advantage. Fortunately, the soldiers intervened upon detecting their presence, leading to an exchange of gunfire before the rebels fled,” he added.
The police officer revealed that they have come up with a security plan by deploying a joint security force for the civilians to celebrate Christmas and the New Year peacefully.
Meanwhile, Maj. Akol Amet Amet, the SSPDF commander in Nimule, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that an armed group came and infiltrated the fuel trucks’ parking yard before being repulsed.
“We are prepared to enhance our security measures because these individuals aimed to disrupt Christmas festivities. They fired numerous bullets and launched two RPG rockets before retreating. It’s important to note that these perpetrators are not outsiders but likely residents of Nimule town. We currently have forces deployed inside and outside the town, including at the airstrip and Jebel Gordon. The Rock City is close to the barracks, but unfortunately, despite my early response, I couldn’t reach them due to mobility challenges. There is a lack of accessible roads even if vehicles are available,” stated Major Akol, SSPDF commander in Nimule town.
Maj. Akol continued, “My message to the people of Nimule is to let them feel free. The incident will not happen again, so we have tightened our security from today. They call themselves Joint Command Council or JCM, but they hide; we don’t know these people; they are very few in number; they hide in town, I suspect, like that.”
In October, a group calling itself Joint Command Council (JCC) issued a press release claiming that Nimule town was under siege and claimed responsibility for a limited attack on a military base in Nimule.
At the time, Maj. Akol Amet Amet, the army commander in charge of Nimule town, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that an unidentified armed group attacked his base on 11 October and that no casualties were reported.
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