Two health workers were shot dead in a road ambush in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, local officials said.
The victims, both nurses, were traveling to their workplace in Pochalla North County when armed assailants attacked them early Monday morning in Burator Payam, on the northern outskirts of Pochalla town.
Col. Amati Ochan, the county police inspector, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the nurses were on their way to Nyium Primary Health Care Unit when they were ambushed at around 5 a.m.
“The two health workers had come to Pochalla town a few days earlier to collect their salaries,” Ochan said. “While returning to their workstation, they were ambushed and shot dead on the spot. Their belongings were looted.”
The victims were identified as Paul Akway Ajiba and Abraham Omot Ochalla, both in their late 20s.
Police said they learned of the incident later in the day after a passing cyclist reported finding one of the bodies by the roadside. Security forces were dispatched to the area and recovered both bodies, which were taken to Nyium for burial.
Ochan said the motive for the attack remains unclear, adding that the assailants were suspected bandits, possibly from the Murle community.
Owity Olung, a local government administrator in Pochalla, confirmed the killings and condemned the attack.
“These health workers were killed in cold blood while on their way to provide lifesaving services,” Olung said. “It is a very unfortunate incident.”
Jacob Werchum Jouk, the information minister for the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, also confirmed the deaths but said the identities of the attackers had not yet been established.