Lawmakers condemn deadly ambush in Greater Pochalla — Eye Radio

Lawmakers representing Greater Pochalla in the National Legislative Assembly have condemned a deadly road ambush that left four people dead and four others injured in the Raad area last Thursday.

Speaking on behalf of politicians and representatives from the area, Hon. Nyigwo Badok Obany, Chairman of the Greater Pochalla Parliamentary Caucus, said the vehicle was carrying civilians when it came under attack.

“There were also civilians in the vehicle and it was ambushed. The attackers killed four people. Two were from the Ethiopian side and were not South Sudanese, while two were South Sudanese. Four other people were injured in the attack,” Obany said.

Obany said the latest incident is part of a series of unresolved security incidents in the area, citing clashes in June, an ambush in August that killed two people, and another attack in Pochalla North.

“This attack was not the first. There has been a sequence of attacks in Raad. In June, there were clashes, and in August, there was an ambush that claimed two lives. There was also an attack in Pochalla North, in Utalo, where one person was killed at the headquarters,” he said.

Obany said the incidents have not been comprehensively investigated and called on the national government to take action to end the continuing violence.

“As representatives of Pochalla, we condemn the attackers and ask the national government to investigate and find a solution to these continual attacks,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pibor Information Minister Werchum said his ministry has not received official information about the latest incident.

He said the ministry follows a reporting hierarchy under which information from the commissioner should first be relayed to the local government, then to the Chief Administrator and subsequently to the information ministry.

“Up to now, we don’t have full information about the incident claimed by the commissioner. On my desk, I have no information about that,” Werchum said.

He called for the incident to be verified through the Chief Administrator or Chief Executive, saying the ministry needs more information before commenting on the matter.