A foreign trucker driver was killed in a road ambush by armed assailants in Duk county of Jonglei State on Saturday, according to local officials.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, Elizabeth Nyadak John, the state information moister, said the slain Somali national met his fate while driving a truck delivering relief food to Uror County.
“A convoy of 10 trucks had left the state capital of Bor to deliver relief foods to the northern part of the state. Unfortunately, the last of the 10 trucks was targeted in Duk Panyang Payam by assailants and its driver was shot dead on the spot while his assistant walked for five hours to Pajut to cheat death,” she said.
Minister Nyadak condemned the incident and said the attack was premeditated to block food delivery to needy people. “The truck was not looted according to the information we have. They targeted the last trucks carrying WFP food by shooting the wheel and then shot the driver in the head, she said.
“We suspect the reason is that they don’t want our returnees who had returned from Sudan and Ethiopia to get food,” she added.
For his part, Duk County Commissioner Peter Latjor Chuol also confirmed the incident and said they have yet to recover the body of the slain driver.
“This incident occurred in the Apirdog area of Panyang Payam. One of the convoys of trucks carrying food aid was attacked, and its driver was killed, but his assistant escaped and arrived in Payuel. That truck is still in the bush with the body. So the body is not yet recovered,” he said.