The police in the border town of Nimule in Eastern Equatoria State have arrested two drivers suspected of involvement in a fatal road accident along the Juba–Nimule highway, with investigators working to establish the circumstances surrounding the death of a pedestrian.
Lieutenant Colonel David Khasmiro, a police inspector in Nimule, confirmed that the two drivers were in police custody and under investigation.
“The driver of a vehicle belonging to a clearing and forwarding company found a dead body on the road around the Moli area and called a security checkpoint to report it, and he was arrested on suspicion of knocking the person, but he denied it,” he said. “So, security personnel started arresting drivers who passed the spot soon after the accident. Several truck drivers were detained, but it was difficult to determine which vehicle knocked the deceased.”
“So, the drivers of two vehicles, a small car and a truck, are in custody on suspicion of causing the fatal accident, and investigations are ongoing,” Lt. Col. Khasmiro added.
The arrests come amid concerns about road safety along the busy highway, a major transport corridor linking South Sudan with neighbouring Uganda.
Separately, Second Lieutenant Ochaya James, a police investigator in Magwi County, confirmed the incident and said he had received information about a truck allegedly involved in a fatal accident in Nimule.
“We received information that a truck caused an accident and tried to rush to Juba and, on its way, knocked another man dead in Jokoki Village,” he said. “The matter is being investigated in Ayii.”
The precise relationship between the reported incidents, the identities of the deceased and the circumstances leading to the arrests remain subject to police investigation.
Meanwhile, Ohide Gabriel, an activist working with the Women Initiative for Humanitarian Development Organization (WIHDO), condemned the reported accidents and called on law enforcement authorities to ensure accountability.
“I urge drivers to exercise caution, particularly along busy roads where pedestrians, farmers, residents and other road users frequently cross or travel alongside vehicles,” he said. “We condemn this in the strongest terms. We call for thorough investigations and appropriate legal action against anyone found responsible.”
The reported deaths have renewed concerns about pedestrian safety along one of South Sudan’s busiest highways, where heavy trucks, commercial vehicles and passenger transport share the road with local communities.
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