At least two people were killed and four others, including women, were injured in an attack on a passenger vehicle in the Khor Dileb area along the Torit-Juba Road on Monday.
The incident occurred when bandits opened fire on the vehicle, killing two people, including the driver, on the spot.
Eastern Equatoria State Information Minister Elia John Ahaji accused armed Murle youths from Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) of the attack. He said the attackers had earlier threatened charcoal burners before laying the road ambush.
“On Monday at around noon, a commuter vehicle traveling from Torit to Juba with passengers on board was attacked by criminals. Some of the young men in the vehicle escaped and ran, but the criminals pursued and randomly shot at them,” he said. “Unfortunately, two individuals, the driver and a man from Jonglei State, were shot dead. Four passengers, two women and two men, sustained bullet injuries. The attackers are believed to be from the Murle Community, according to the survivors of the ambush.”
The minister condemned the attack and urged the GPAA authorities to hold perpetrators accountable.
“The Government of Eastern Equatoria condemns this heinous act against the people of the state and urges the authorities in GPAA to apprehend these criminals who have chosen to survive through illegal means,” he stated. “We have been enjoying a good collaborative working environment with you (GPAA), and we can never get tired of ensuring the security of our population. So, kindly investigate these individuals so that they can be held accountable for their actions.”
Ahaji said calm had returned and traffic had resumed along the road, but urged the population of Torit West, Lafon, and Lopit to remain vigilant and protect their children and livestock from bandits roaming in the forests of Eastern Equatoria State.
For his part, Nyinginga Okano, the GPAA information minister, said they are not aware of the incident, but pledged to investigate it.
“We do not know about the attack because we do not know those who went there and attacked people on the road, so let me confirm,” he said.
Relatedly, on Sunday, bandits ambushed, shot, and injured a motorist along the Torit-Magwi Road.