At least seven fishermen were killed and six others injured in an attack by armed men in Nyirol County of Jonglei State on Tuesday, local officials said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, James Bol Makuey, the Nyirol County Commissioner, said the men met their fate at the Lel fishing area on the outskirts of Langkien town on Tuesday morning.
“There were a group of 14 men who have been fishing at Lel for some time. What happened was that early Monday morning, they were attacked by some armed men. Seven were killed on the spot, six injured and one person is still missing,” he explained.
Commissioner Bol pointed out that the wounded individuals are being treated at a health facility in Langkien town.
Both Jal, the county information director, said: “We just buried eight bodies. What happened early this Tuesday morning was that some armed men attacked our fishermen while roasting fish, killing eight of them, and went away with their guns. Our youth have pursued them.”
For his part, Brig. Gen. Marial Gatluak, the county police inspector, accused armed bandits suspected to have come from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area of involvement in the attack.
On Wednesday, Nyany Korok, the deputy head of the GPAA Human Rights Commission, said they were not aware of the involvement of their youth in attacks in Jonglei State because areas bordering Jonglei State are cut off from the GPAA.