Police in Jonglei State have launched an investigation into the killing of two construction workers, one Ethiopian and one South Sudanese, who were shot dead in an ambush on Thursday evening while building a bridge in Duk County, local officials and an eyewitness said.
The victims were employed by NYG, a company contracted to construct bridges in the northern part of the state, according to Agei Abara, an engineer with the firm.
Abara told Radio Tamazuj that the attack occurred at around 5 p.m. at Werkak village, situated between Wernyol in Twic East and Poktap in Duk.
“This evening at 5 pm, we were attacked at our workplace; two of my colleagues – one Ethiopian and a South Sudanese – were shot dead,” Abara said.
He said the surviving crew escaped unharmed but abandoned one vehicle after its tyres were damaged by gunfire. He added that the attackers had not been identified.
“We arrived safely in Poktap. But one of our vehicles was left behind damaged. We suspended our construction work,” he said.
Duk County Commissioner John Chatim Ruei confirmed the incident and blamed it on criminals from the neighbouring Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).
“This evening at 5 pm, some construction workers were attacked at Werkak, resulting in the killing of two construction workers – an Ethiopian and a South Sudanese. The attackers are Murle criminals,” Ruei said.
But Jacob Werchum Jouk, the GPAA information minister, said his administration was unaware of the attack and denied any involvement by youths from Pibor.
“We are not aware of this attack. The Duk authorities through their state leadership should investigate before concluding. We do not harbour or support criminals, but accusations without evidence should not be encouraged,” Jouk said.
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