By Manas James Okony
Two girls and a woman were injured in a gun attack, and a child went missing following an ambush by armed assailants in Duk County, Jonglei State, on Friday, authorities reported.
Duk County Commissioner John Chatim Ruei told No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper that the victims were among passengers travelling to neighbouring Uror County when their vehicle was sprayed with bullets on the outskirts of Duk Padiet town.
“The incident occurred in an area known as Mukpinyagany. The passengers’ vehicle came under fire, resulting in injuries to two girls and a woman,” he stated. “Amid the chaos, a child went missing, and it remains unclear whether the assailants took the child with them.”
Commissioner Chatim accused armed youth, suspected to have come from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), of being involved in the attack. “According to reports, armed youth from Murle participated in the assault. We urge our counterparts in the GPAA to take measures to prevent these ongoing attacks.”
In response, GPAA Information Minister Nyinginga Okanho Kiro stated that they were unaware of the attack and denied any involvement by Pibor youth.