By Gladys Fred Kole
An ambush on Eastern Equatoria state government vehicle along Torit-Kapoeta Road at Camp-15 has left one wildlife warden dead and four other soldiers wounded.
The minister of information and communication in Eastern Equatoria State, Patrick Oting, confirmed the incident to No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper via phone from Torit, on Friday.
“The incident tragically left one dead when the vehicle came under attack by armed men along the Kapoeta-Camp 15 road in Eastern Equatoria state,” he said.
“The four who have sustained gunshot injuries in the incident are soldiers and the dead is a wildlife warden,” Mr. Oting clarified.
The minister identified the deceased, as 40-year-old Michael Lobalu, saying his body was transported to Chukudum for burial, while, the four injured are receiving treatment at Kapoeta Hospital.
Mr. Oting condemned the attack and assured that the government would take all necessary measures to apprehend the culprits and bring them to account.
Despite the incident, Oting said the Kapoeta-Torit highway remains peaceful, and normal movements are continuing.
The vehicle, belonging to the Eastern Equatoria State government, had initially travelled on a mission to greater Kapoeta and was attacked on return to the state capital, Torit.
Minister Oting also stated that those soldiers who were in the vehicle hit back at the attackers, wounding one of them as they fled.
“We consider this incident a severe act of aggression against government and civilian vehicles, as well as pedestrians,” the minister added.
Meanwhile, in 2021, Governor Louis Lobong Lojore narrowly escaped death after armed youth in Budi County laid an ambush on his convoy, killing one of his bodyguards and the wife of the Division Commander.
Two other people also sustained injuries in that attack.