Gunmen in South Sudan have interrupted regular movement of goods and services along Juba-Nimule road, sparking fears that any intensity of armed confrontation could affect supply of essential commodities.
Traffic police sources and immigration officers in Nimule town and in Juba said that three commercial vehicles carrying passengers and travelling in a convoy have come under attack on Monday morning when men wielding automatic rifles emerged by the road side and pointed guns at busses, forcing them to stop. The buses were attacked along the Juba-Nimule Highway from Juba when they were attacked 50km from Juba near Jebellein. One bus, according to police sources, was instantly burnt while two others were stopped and looted before the attackers fled the scene.
The identity of the group has not been identified and no groups had come out to claim any responsibility for the attack. The incident is the latest of a series of attacks on this same high way. It is one of the events that threatened the safety of the travelers and reduced the number of the users as well as the level of commercial activities.
It was not yet clear whether some passengers were injured in the burnt bus. There has been conflicting information about the safety of passengers in two vehicles which were stopped and looted. Police spokesman Daniel Justin could immediately confirm whether there were casualties or damages but confirmed that he received reports of the attack. Daniel said he was still consulting with officials responsible for coordination and overseeing daily transport activities in and outside Juba for update.
But while no official comments confirming casualties have emerged, some eyewitness have claimed that some of the passengers have been kidnapped at gunmen and driven into the bush by the gunmen.
Their safety, if confirmed, remains a subject of concern. It is not clear what prompt measures have been taken by the government forces in the area to rescue the passengers whose nationalities are yet to be established. Buses leaving Juba for Nimule usual extends their trips to neigbouring countries through Uganda with nationalities from Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and countries in the region. Past incidents have seen foreign nationals becoming the victims of roadside attack and head on collision between buses traveling from opposite directions.