By Emelda Siama John Lopula
Bandits have killed one person and set three motorbikes ablaze, in a road ambush, around Mitika area along Yei-Lasu Road in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State.
South Sudan People’s Defense Forces’ (SSPDF) Director of Civil-Military Relations in Yei River County, Michael Machar confirmed the incident saying security officers rescued two other motorcyclists.
The SSPDF public relations officer accused the National Salvation Front (NAS) of being behind the attack, though No.1 Citizens Daily Newspaper could not independently verify the claim.
“10 people traveling from Yei County to Lasu Payam fell in an ambush by NAS whereby three motorbikes burnt into ashes and one person killed, two motorbikes and 9 people were saved,” he said.
Machar said the deceased was taken to Nyori village to be buried.
He stated that government forces quickly intervened in a rescue operation where they managed to save two riders who were brought back to Yei town, unfortunately the bandits fled.
The officer said government forces took control of the area after the incident, assuring that things would return to normalcy, again.
The gruesome attack comes just a day after the bishop of Morobo Diocese of Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS), Central Equatoria State Internal Province, survived an ambush by armed men.
Machar further said they have spread the operation along Lasu and Kaya roads to protect the civilians and their properties.
NAS rebel under the command of Gen. Thomas Cirilo, are part of the holdout groups in peace negation with the government.
Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, (CEPO) Edmund Yakani condemned the two recent separate attacks in Morobo and Yei River County.
Yakani said the attacks are against humanity and against human right violation.
“I urged all relevance institutions to investigate the group which is behind the armed attack against the Bishop of Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) in Morobo County,” Edmund said.
Central Equatoria State governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony on several occasions called upon the leadership of NAS to reciprocate the commitment of President Salva Kiir to peace.
He urges NAS leaders to recommit themselves to a peaceful settlement of their grievance through the ongoing talks in Rome.