Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Three people were shot and critically wounded after a passenger car destined for Juba from Nimule was ambushed by unidentified armed men. An eyewitness told The City Review that the incident happened at around 7 PM South Sudan time proximal to the army barrack where the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) Tiger Division is stationed.
“It happened right before us because our car was behind. When we arrived at the spot the attackers had left. Three people were shot, a little boy and two male adults, but fortunately none of them died though they were critically injured,” the source told The City Review Monday.
The victims, the eyewitness said, were rescued by SSPDF soldiers and rushed to Juba for emergency medical attention. Speaking to The City Review, Arop Daniel confirmed that one of the victims identified as Ojuk Robert and a member of his family was gnashing a broken left limb and a dislocated arm at Peace Hospital in Juba Town.
“Family, friends, and in-laws, let’s pray for our brother Ojuk Robert. He has been on the left arm and leg this [Sunday] evening along Juba – Nimule Highway and he is in serious pain – admitted at Peace Hospital in Juba Town,” he said in a Facebook post.
In a follow-up interview with The City Review, Arop, who comes from Ojuk’s family line said the doctors were still doing medical assessment before executing surgery. He reiterated that the pain from the gunshot injuries remained excruciating.
“We transferred him to Peace Hospital here in Juba Town and he’s still restless due to too much pain from the injuries he sustained,” he told The City Review. Daniel condemned the senseless attack against innocent civilians and urged authorities to trace the suspects and bring them to justice.
The car was ambushed near a farm where Ojum Ben, another driver – had the car’s windscreen vandalized by gunfire in late 2021 after he was ambushed by unidentified armed men on his way from Magwi County to Juba.
When contacted by The City Review, authorities in Juba said they were not informed about the incident. Police Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin said law enforcement agents were making attempts to get the official report.
“On the issue of the attack along Juba –Nimule road, we did not get any clear information because I called Nimule and Nesitu but they told us that they don’t have any report about the attack. We are going to find out from our organized forces located in different locations along the highway,” Justin said.
SSPDF Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai said his desk will check the organized forces deployed along the highway on Tuesday. “I have not gotten the report but I will find out tomorrow [Tuesday] what exactly took place on Sunday evening,” he said.
The attack, which is the first of its kind in 2022, defied the government’s efforts to implement security mechanisms along the Juba – Nimule Road littered by soldiers who demand basic necessities like drinking water and cigarettes from drivers.
The Juba – Nimule Highway stole headlines in 2021 after a spate of attacks led to the killing of two catholic nuns and truck drivers. President Salva Kiir consequently pulled of the Rome talks accusing the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) of plotting the attacks against innocent civilians, an accusation SSOMA denied.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
