At least three people were killed and a police vehicle burnt after it was ambushed near Kotobi Village in Mundri West County, Western Equatoria State.
The attack happened last Friday as the vehicle was returning from Yambio, where newly recruited police personnel from Mundri East and Mundri West had been taken for training.
A community member who spoke to Radio Tamazuj on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals said the vehicle came under attack before reaching Kotobi.
The source said three people were killed, including a police officer, and a SSPDF soldier who had boarded the vehicle in Maridi while travelling towards Jambo, and a civilian from Karika who was travelling to Mundri.
The newly recruited police personnel are part of the 1,200 recruits recently announced by the Western Equatoria State government, according to the community source.
Western Equatoria State Police Commissioner Justin Wai Wai confirmed the attack, saying the police vehicle came under ambush after reaching the Kotobi area.
Wai Wai confirmed that one police officer was killed and said no suspect has been arrested. He described the attackers as criminals whose identities are not yet known.
State Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Abel Sudan condemned the attack, saying unknown gunmen ambushed the police vehicle and later set it on fire.
“The attackers took several firearms from the vehicle, including a PKM machinegun, before burning it,” he said. “Security forces responded to the attack, but when they reached the scene, the police trainees had already fled into the bush.”
The minister said the incident was the third time a government vehicle had been burnt in Mundri West.
According to Sudan, the first vehicle belonged to the National Security Service, the second belonged to the county commissioner, and the latest one belonged to the police.
He said the repeated attacks were affecting the movement of government officials and civilians and called for improved security along the roads. Sudan appealed to armed groups operating in the bush to maintain peace and resolve their grievances through dialogue rather than violence.
He also urged communities and all people of Western Equatoria State to contribute to peace and development, saying improved security is necessary for people to travel freely, conduct businesses and send their children to school.
Meanwhile, Zelpha Dawa, the Mundri West County commissioner, said she is in Juba and cannot not provide detailed information.
No armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities have not publicly identified those responsible.
The attack has renewed concerns over insecurity along roads connecting Mundri West, Mundri East, Maridi and Yambio.
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