The Bebeto coach left Juba for Kampala on Tuesday morning when it fell into an ambush between Jebelen and Kubi areas.
Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF army spokesperson, said they have registered more than seven passengers missing.
“At around 8.30 to 9, a Bebeto bus that was traveling from Juba to Nimule was ambushed near Kubi, Jebelen areas. One person was killed. Eight people were injured, including seven civilians and one serviceman from the National Security Service,” Ruai told reporters on Tuesday.
“We have registered between seven and fourteen passengers that have gone missing or are strongly believed to have been abducted by the attackers. Our security forces were the first to respond. They rushed to the scene, and they discovered that the bus was set ablaze.”
Ruai believes that the attack was carried out by the National Salvation Front (NAS), a claim the armed opposition movement is yet to respond to.
“We have concluded and verified that the attack was carried out by NAS rebels. Because in the last seven days, our intelligence personnel detected unusual movement of armed elements within that area,” Ruai explained.
“Our joint security forces were in the process of preparing and launching a surprise attack on their hideout. However, and unfortunately, we did not know that civilians were going to be the primary target.”
He reassured the public that the joint security forces led by SSPDF are at work to bring the culprits to book.