A woman was killed while three others, including a woman with a baby strapped on her back, were abducted during a road ambush in Nyirol County in Jonglei State over the weekend, local officials said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj at the weekend, Makuei Puok Bai, the leader of the Pading Community where the attack victims hail from, said the deceased and abductees were among a group of women returning home from Uror County.
“On Friday evening, we had a group of women who were returning home from Karam in Uror County where they had visited relatives. On reaching Guer in Pading Payam, just a distance of 2 hours, they were waylaid by Murle bandits,” he said. “One woman was killed on the spot and two women plus a baby were abducted while four others sustained gunshot wounds.”
The community leader condemned the attack and demanded government intervention to secure the release of the abductees.
Nyirol County Commissioner James Bol Makuey also confirmed the attack which he blamed on armed men suspected to have come from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA). He said investigations were being carried out to establish more details.
For his part, Abraham Kelang, the GPAA information minister, said they are not aware of Pibor youth involvement in the attack, saying such accusations are mere allegations to be used as a basis for attacks on GPAA.
“We are not aware of what is happening in Jonglei State and these reports are just a cover for the mobilization by their youth to attack us,” he stated. “We are aware of their plans but we are for peace.”