By Manas James Okony
A 12-year-old boy was shot dead and his cousin abducted in a road ambush by armed assailants in Pochalla North County, Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), on Thursday, authorities said.
Speaking to No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, Gilo Ochan Gilo, the Pochalla North County commissioner, reported that the victims were on a bicycle en route to Burator Payam when they were waylaid.
He detailed that their adult companion was shot and injured in the arms during the attack.
“What happened was that a man riding with his 12-year-old nephew and 10-year-old son from Pochalla Town, where he had sought medical treatment for his son a few days earlier, was ambushed midway on Thursday morning,” he explained. “The man escaped with gunshot wounds to his arms. His 12-year-old nephew was killed on the spot, while his son was abducted.”
Commissioner Gilo condemned the ambush, attributing the actions to armed youth from the Pibor area, and urged GPAA authorities to investigate the incident and apprehend the culprits.
He pointed out that the attackers were being pursued.
“The police, army, and some local youth immediately went to the incident scene and found that the criminals had fled. The deceased child was taken to Burator for burial, while his wounded uncle was brought back to Pochalla Hospital for medical attention. As of Thursday evening, the attackers were still being pursued. The assailants were a group of seven men who escaped towards Pibor,” he stated.
Nyinginga Okano Kiro, the GPAA Information Minister, acknowledged awareness of the incident and confirmed that an investigation was being instituted.
“We received the report on the incident from local authorities on Thursday evening. The attackers were said to have crossed the river and were being pursued towards Pibor. We are waiting for the final report from those tracking their movements,” he said.
Jonglei region where GPAA is located, is notorious for its history of intercommunal violence involving various ethnic groups, including the Nuer, Murle, Dinka, and Anyuak communities.
This region has long been marked by deep-seated rivalries, fuelled by a confluence of historical, socio-economic, and political factors.
One significant source of conflict has been the competition for resources such as cattle, land, and water.
In the traditional societies of these communities, cattle are not only a measure of wealth but also central to cultural identity and social standing. Raiding has historically been a common practice among these groups, where the loss and recovery of cattle can lead to cycles of violence and retribution.
Several past dialogues aimed at pacifying the troubled region have proven futile.