The University of Bahr el Ghazal said one of their teaching assistants was killed in the attack on an interstate passenger bus on Tuesday morning along the Juba-Nimule Road.
The bus, registration number SSD 089 and operated by Babeto Coach Services, left Juba for Kampala early at 5: 30 a.m. on Tuesday before being ambushed in the Lakarakak area between Nyerjebe and Kubi.
A condolence message on the University’s Facebook page said Joseph Thomas was a teaching subordinate at the College of Agriculture while traveling to Uganda to study for his master’s degree.
“On behalf of the College of Agriculture, University of Bahr el Ghazal, its entire teaching staff, support staff, workers, and the students, we have received with a heavy heart and deep sorrow the heartbreaking news of the passing away of our dear brother and colleague, teaching assistant, Joseph Thomas Fuad, today (Tuesday) in the Juba-Nimule Highway attack,” the statement reads. “Your Kind Soul will be greatly missed among us dear brother and colleague Ustaz Joseph Thomas.”
“Your untimely death has left us shocked dear Joseph! You have just begun your lifetime career in UBG, but Almighty God might have his different everlasting choice for your beautiful soul,” the statement added.
When contacted, one of his colleagues, Joseph Lual Dario, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the deceased was on his way to Christian University in Kampala for his master’s studies but was unfortunately killed on the way.
He said the University will receive the remains of the deceased on Friday at the University Campus before laying it to rest at his family home at Hai Kosti next to the University of Bahr el Ghazal.
“The teacher was on his journey for his masters at the Christian University in Uganda where he was admitted but unfortunately on his way, was killed and this is what happened,” Lual said. “We have issued a condolence message and we were with the family yesterday and from tomorrow (Friday) at 8:30 a.m. we will receive his body at the College of Agriculture after which it will be taken to the family house for burial. He was a teaching assistant at the University of Bahr el Ghazal.”
On Tuesday, SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said one person was killed in the attack while seven people, including a National Security officer, were wounded and several other passengers were missing, presumed abducted by the assailants.
On Wednesday, the authorities said six of the abducted were released by the attackers.