By Jacob Onuha Nelson
Section of Akobo residents have fled their homes to neighbouring Ethiopia following aerial bombardment and fear of hovering gunships in the area.
In an exclusive phone call interview with No.1 Citizen Newspaper, the commissioner of Akobo County, Puok Nyang confirmed the bombardment at the outskirts of Akobo town.
“Yesterday at around 12:45, we heard a sound of gunship and bombardment in the outskirts of Akobo town. When we rushed and ran to the scene, we met two vehicles (one pick-up and land cruiser) coming with two drivers and passengers,” Nyang said.
“They told us that they were targeted by the gunship between Akobo West and Akobo East in a place called Dok-kuur and (Dokthiel)is very close also to Akobo town, I think it’s an hour’s walk,” he added.
Mr. Nyang cited that no casualties or injuries were documented. He added that same day, they also received information of a gunship hovering at Waat and Walgak heading to Akobo but no bombardment.
“Fortunately, enough the two vehicles managed to mauver in the bush of Akobo and all of them came safe,” he affirmed.
County boss cited that after unconfirmed information that the helicopter is targeting civilians started to panic and fled to neighbouring Ethiopia country.
“Yesterday, at 10:00 pm there was a rumour that the plane was coming to Akobo again because Akobo is at the border with Ethiopia many civilians crossed Ethiopia seeking protection,” he explained.
“But I think they came back this morning because there was no other bomb in Akobo and today the situation is calm,” Nyang continued.
He did not reveal the number of civilians who escaped to Ethiopia.
He appealed to the government of national unity to commit themselves and implement the security arrangement.
The commissioner also urged the parties to shun violence and heed the call for a dialogue.
“The world is laughing at us, the region is laughing at us and Africa is laughing at us. when the whole world is competing in development, we are competing in the war that we will never win,” he said.
This comes after, several air raids have been reported in Nasir, Upper Nile State. The government confirmed carrying out the raid which it said targets the ‘White Army.’