By Ginaba Lino
The County Commissioner of Akobo County is urgently calling on both the State and National Governments to provide clear answers regarding the recent bombing of Akobo County.
In an exclusive interview with Catholic Radio Network, County Commissioner Hon. Puok Nyang Tujiek confirmed that two commercial vehicles traveling from Akobo West to Akobo East were struck by gunship helicopters. The incident has left the residents of Akobo shocked, as the county has not been involved in the ongoing conflict in Nasir.
“It was a surprise to us. We didn’t know of any issue in Akobo County that would justify such an attack. When we rushed to the area, we found that two vehicles coming from Akobo West to Akobo East had been targeted,” Commissioner Puok said.
He added that the people of Akobo are awaiting answers from the State and National Governments to understand why the county was targeted, questioning whether the peace agreement is still being upheld.
“I think the president and the first vice president should make it clear to the people of South Sudan if peace is still intact or not. We thought that Akobo County was a peaceful place, and we have always supported peace. The body of the SSPDF general who was killed in Nasir, as well as the UN pilot, were transported through Akobo, and we facilitated that because we believed we were for peace,” he explained.
The bombing of Akobo County has been described as a huge surprise by local authorities. Commissioner Puok expressed concern, stating that the issue in Nasir should not have led to an attack on civilians in Akobo County.
“If there’s an incident, it should be a leadership decision to resolve it, not by bringing in gunships, whether from the SSPDF or UPDF, to bomb Akobo County,” he said.
According to the commissioner, many civilians are now seeking refuge in the surrounding bushes for safety, urging the citizens to remain calm as the situation continues to unfold.
Pouk further stated that, as of now, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or fatalities from the bombing. The authorities are still awaiting more information from both the State and National Governments to provide clarity on the incident.