Police in Eastern Equatoria state have confirmed the deployment of security forces along the restive Juba-Nimule highways to guarantee the safety of travellers.
On Tuesday, unknown assailants ambushed a commercial bus along the road – killing 3 people and wounding 14 others. Among them, six people sustained gunshot wounds while five were cut by the vehicle glass.
The attack reportedly happened between Ame and Obama village.
The Director of Traffic Police in Nimule said transportation along the Nimule border route has not been interrupted by the attack.
Major Juma George said there is heavy deployment of soldiers who are conducting patrols along the highway
“The situation is normal, vehicles are going and coming. People should not fear because our forces are now present there like before. We established checkpoints,” he stated.
Major Juma advised drivers against traveling without getting security assurances from the authorities.
“We have forces escorting these people. I am asking citizens not to travel without escort.”
Nimule highway remains South Sudan’s main trade lifeline to East Africa. The landlocked country import most of its goods from the Port of Mombasa to Juba and the rest of the country through the Juba-Nimule highway.
There have been sporadic attacks on commercial vehicles along the highway.
Last year, a catholic nun was killed when armed men attacked a passenger vehicle on the same road.