The authorities in Lakes State have confirmed that two people have been killed, and four others wounded when a vehicle belonging to the Tiger Division of the SSPDF traveling from Juba to Cueibet County was ambushed by bandits who also carried out attacks in the area of Pacong of Rumbek East County on Monday.
One soldier was killed on the spot in the vehicle, and a woman, a resident of the area, was also killed in a separate attack by the same outlaws in what local authorities believe to be a revenge attack.
William Koji Kirjok, the acting minister of information and communication in Lakes State, said a soldier died on the spot and four other passengers were injured. Some of the passengers sustained injuries from jumping off the car.
“The same night. The same group also went to terrorize those who were sleeping in their houses and killed a woman,” he said. “According to information obtained from the ground, the incident is related to revenge, because the assailants were moving from house to house calling people the names of men, but they spared women, which means the targets were men.”
“They shot the woman through the window, yet the man was not in the house, which was very unfortunate,” Minister Koli added.
He said the injured are receiving treatment at Rumbek State Hospital and that a massive deployment of security forces has been made to track down the attackers.
“We need cooperation from the public so that such activities are stopped. People are not supposed to be ambushed on roads,” he stated. “Those who are moving on their way are supposed to go free, and anybody who attempts to do so will be held accountable by the government.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Terran Madit Terran, the medical director at Rumbek Hospital, confirmed that they received casualties of the attacks in Rumbek East County.
“They were shot by unknown people alongside the road, and one of the travelers in the military vehicle was shot dead,” he said. “There are some injuries also due to the gunshots and from jumping from the vehicle, which was speeding. The injured received some first aid and resuscitation at the surgical department of Rumbek State hospital, and all of them are doing well so far.”
For his part, Daniel Laat Kon, a civil society activist, condemned the attacks.
“This is a very sad incident, and we strongly condemn it. It is wrong to attack people who are moving on the road because of revenge killings and or looting,” he said. “We call on the government to make sure that these people are apprehended and held accountable.”
“This is very unfortunate, and we urge the community of Rumbek East County to cooperate with the security apparatus to make sure that such people are held accountable,” Kon added.
He urged the families of the deceased to remain calm and let the government handle the matter.