Vehicles burned, civilians abducted in attacks along Juba-Mundri road

At least four civilian vehicles were burned and 17 people abducted in separate attacks along the Juba-Mundri road in Mundri East County, Western Equatoria State, local officials said.

The incidents took place in the early hours of Sunday between Merila and Lanyi Boma in Lozoh Payam.

Benson George, the executive director of Mundri East County, told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that three young men travelling by motorcycle from Lanyi Boma after collecting honey were attacked by unidentified armed men.

One of the men was shot in the leg and later taken to Lanyi for medical treatment, George said.

He said three vehicles travelling from Maridi towards Juba after attending a funeral were also attacked. They included a tipper truck and two Land Cruisers.

The vehicles were burned and their passengers taken into the bush, according to George.

He said another vehicle travelling from Juba was also attacked and burned, with its passengers abducted.

“Fourteen people were taken from one vehicle, two from another vehicle, and one person from a motorcycle, making 17 people in total,” George said.

He said women, young people and elderly people were among those reportedly abducted.

George called on armed opposition groups to stop targeting civilians and resolve their differences through dialogue.

“If you want to win an election, why loot, kidnap and kill civilians and burn community property? How will we vote for you? We need peace,” he said.

Community leader Levi Sherifa said residents were concerned about reports of looting, abductions and the burning of civilian vehicles.

A youth leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears of reprisals, said attacks, robberies and the burning of vehicles along roads had increased in recent months.

The youth leader said civilians should not be targeted by armed groups, particularly as South Sudan prepares for elections.

“I condemn these attacks in the strongest terms possible. As youth from the area, we do not want our civilians and our people to continue suffering, especially at this time when the country is heading towards elections,” he said.

He also condemned the reported abduction of women and children, saying children should be in school rather than being caught up in armed violence.

“When people take up arms, civilians should not be their target. Civilian vehicles and innocent people should be protected,” he said.

“We are calling on all armed groups to stop attacking and robbing civilians and to respect the safety and rights of ordinary people.”

Felix Francis, a police inspector in the area, confirmed that vehicles, including a tipper truck and two Land Cruisers, had been attacked and burned.

He said the vehicles were travelling from Maridi towards Juba after a funeral and that passengers were abducted and property looted.

“The number is very many. There were four vehicles full of people, and we cannot give the exact number because there were many passengers,” he said.

Francis said the situation was calm on Sunday morning but confirmed reports of looting, abductions and burned vehicles.

Police had been deployed to the area, but no suspects had been arrested, he said.

Francis added that officers found only the burned vehicles along the road.

The identities and whereabouts of those reportedly abducted remain unclear.

Radio Tamazuj could not determine who was responsible for the attacks. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incidents.

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