Two killed, scores injured in South Sudan boat attack
April 1, 2016 (JUBA) – Two people were killed and four others injured after a boat carrying passengers from the South Sudan capital, Juba was attacked on Thursday.
Ruk said the boat was loaded in Magala, a payam located about 75 km north of Juba.
“After the boat left Magala and travelled only one kilometre, some armed youth started firing from both sides of the Nile River killing a young girl of 17 years old and one woman,” he said, but declined to name the woman killed.
The commissioner also visited the scene near Magala on Thursday to help the survivors and transport them to Bor, located about 197 km north of the South Sudan capital, Juba.
Seven boats were loaded with cars and pastoralists in Magala Thursday, heading to Bor. 52 cows were killed, several others injured and about two dozen are missing, said Ruk.
“I held a meeting with authorities in Magala yesterday [Thursday] and expressed our disappointment over this repeated attacks on people returning to Bor and demanded that the gunmen be apprehended to account for their actions,” said Ruk.
This is a second time in a week that passengers are being targeted between Bor and Juba. On Tuesday, two people were killed in an attack on a bus along Juba-Bor road.
Ruk said he has urged the authorities in Jubek and Terekeka states – the two provinces neighbouring Bor county to assist in arresting the gunmen and provide enough security.
Jonglei and Jubek states authorities agreed in January that cattle keepers from Bor should return to their villages to give farmers in Central Equatoria state a chance to farm, but lack of protection for returnees has been a main concern for pastoralists.
(ST)