Late-Day Attack on Busy Trade Route
Police in Western Bahr el Ghazal confirm that a Land Cruiser carrying passengers and goods from Wau to Juba came under fire Friday evening on the Wau-Tonj road, wounding two women.
Eyewitness Details and Immediate Casualties
State police spokesperson Major Santino Udul Mayen reports that gunmen described as SPLA-IO loyalists under Major General Bol Wek opened a sudden volley, striking one victim in the back and another across the right-hand fingers.
Hospital Response and Ongoing Investigation
Both survivors reached Wau Teaching Hospital, where doctors say their conditions are stable after emergency surgery; meanwhile detectives are gathering statements and coordinating with army liaisons to identify and arrest the attackers.
Assurance of Stability Along the Corridor
Mayen stresses that Wau town and surrounding counties remain calm, citing joint police-military patrols, new checkpoints and routine highway sweeps designed to reassure traders, commuters and humanitarian convoys.
Recurring Banditry or Political Motive?
Local civil-society monitors note previous ambushes in the region often blended banditry, cross-border crime and revenge, making attribution difficult; analysts caution against hasty conclusions until forensic evidence and detainee interviews clarify intent.
Call for Vigilance, Not Fear
Authorities encourage drivers to maintain travel schedules but to share departure times with security posts and report suspicious movements, arguing that public cooperation is vital for keeping the Wau-Tonj lifeline open during the farming season.