Senior police officer survives Lakes state ambush

December 6, 2015 (RUMBEK) – A senior police officer in South Sudan’s Lakes state survived an ambush on the road between Payi and Aluakluak payam in Yirol West county.

Authorities said Marial Abur fell into the ambush over the weekend as he traveled from the South Sudanese capital, Juba to his home area in neighbouring Warrap state.

His car was stuck in the mud before gunmen indiscriminately opened fire, officials said.

The peace and reconciliation advisor to Lakes state governor, Daniel Chol Koknyin confirmed the incident, which he outrightly condemned. He however said Abur was not hurt, but his bodyguard was wounded after exchanging gunfire with the unknown gunmen.

“The general [Abur] was not harmed, only his bodyguard sustained injury but it was a simple injury. Thevgeneral was travelling from Juba aiming to reach Warrap state, but unfortunately he fell in this ambush. We sent forces to help him in the same night of the attack. He was attackedbbetween Payi and Aluakluak payam of Yirol West”, said Chol.

Lakes state has remained in a vicious cycle of counter revenge attacks since caretaker governor Maj Gen Matur Chut Dhuol took over more than two years ago, with activists, traditional authorities and intellectuals calling upon South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit to remove Dhuol, but so far all the calls have been overlooked by the president.

(ST)