Police arrest eight suspects in Juba-Nimule road attack

South Sudan police said Monday they are holding eight key suspects in connection with last week’s attack on a passenger vehicle along the Juba-Nimule road.

South Sudan police said Monday they are holding eight key suspects in connection with last week’s attack on a passenger vehicle along the Juba-Nimule road.

On Friday, an armed group launched an attack on Bonga bus, killing two people including the driver. Three other passengers also sustained injuries in the ambush.

The attackers also abducted five children, but one of them was later found dead.

“Our forces managed to recover the abducted children, but one of them was found killed. Also, we have arrested eight suspects and they are now being held at Gumbo Police Station,” Police Spokesman Daniel Justin told Radio Tamazuj.   

According to Justin, the suspects who were arrested along the Juba-Nimule road are being interrogated.

The police officer warned road users against travelling without security escorts and urged the public to seek police protection before travelling to avoid road attacks by armed assailants.

The highway is a lifeline for South Sudan, which imports almost everything, and for people travelling to neighbouring Uganda.