Three women were killed, an 11-month-old baby was injured and a two-year-old child was abducted in an attack by armed men in Twic East County, Jonglei State, on Tuesday, the county commissioner said.
James Magok Mabiei, the caretaker county commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj that the women were transporting dried fish to Panyagoor, the county headquarters, when they were attacked in Apiir, Lith Payam, at about 4 p.m.
Mabiei said he suspected the attackers had come from the neighbouring Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
“Yesterday at 4 p.m., some women were attacked in the area of Apiir in Lith Payam while attempting to transport their dried fish to Panyagoor,” he said. “Three women were killed, an 11-month-old baby was injured, and a two-year-old child was abducted.”
He condemned the attack and called on authorities in the GPAA to arrest those responsible.
“We condemn these barbaric acts and appeal to our counterparts in the GPAA to have these culprits arrested. Targeting innocent road users threatens peaceful coexistence,” Mabiei said.
Several attempts to reach Jacob Werchum Jouk, the caretaker GPAA information minister, for comment were unsuccessful.
Kenya Mach, an activist with the Jonglei State Women Association, also condemned the attack and called on the government to take action to improve security.
“Women are breadwinners. Attacks on businesswomen destroy livelihoods and affect their ability to pay for their children’s needs, including school fees. The government should address these security crises so that our roads become safer again,” she said.
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