An ambush on a passenger vehicle in the outskirts of Uror County in Jonglei state on Monday morning left two people dead, officials have said.
Uror County Commissioner, Tang Chatim, told Radio Tamazuj that the early morning incident took place when a vehicle carrying passengers from Uror’s Yuai town to Juba was ambushed near the Gadiang area.
“The vehicle was carrying eight passengers from Uror to Juba through the Uror-Bor road. But after the car reached an area between Gadiang and Mathiang, it was stopped at gunpoint by armed men, killing two people on the spot and abducting two children,” Tang explained.
He added, “A mother with her five children and the driver were spared. They arrived in the state capital, Bor, this morning with the dead bodies."
The county official blamed the attack on a group suspected to have come from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
Cpt. John Bol Kuer, an officer with Yuai police, also confirmed the incident and said they were unable to provide escorts because of logistical challenges.
For his part, Lokali Amae, a lawmaker representing Pibor County in the GPAA legislative council, denied the involvement of their youth in the attack.
“Pibor youth cannot constantly carry road ambushes in Jonglei and not get arrested when authorities investigate the incident. People from Jonglei come to us with goods for sale while no one touches them. So, we believe the attackers are Jonglei youth who want to destroy our relations with the Lou Nuer,” Lokali said.
The lawmaker condemned the incident and called on Jonglei authorities to investigate it further.