By Sabri Dibaco
The information minister in Eastern Equatoria State has confirmed that a delegation of SPLM officials travelling to Magwi County came under attack by unidentified armed assailants, leaving a driver dead and other people wounded.
Speaking to No. 1 Citizen Newspaper on Thursday, the Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Information, Elia John Ahaji, confirmed the incident, saying a delegation of SPLM officials travelling to Pageri in Magwi County for a party membership registration was attacked by unknown gunmen along the Torit–Magwi Road, leaving the driver dead and injuring a member of parliament.
“Yes, yes, it is just the way you got it in the media,” he said.
The minister said the information available to the state government remained consistent with reports circulating in the media.
According to the minister, the attack claimed the life of the vehicle’s driver, while two people, including Emilio Iga and a security bodyguard, were injured, while Dr. Margaret Itto Leonardo escaped unharmed
The minister further disclosed that security personnel had immediately launched an operation to pursue those responsible for the attack.
“Of course there is. The people are still following them,” he said in response to whether efforts were underway to apprehend the attackers.
The identities of the wounded officials and the motive behind the ambush had not yet been officially disclosed by the time of publication.
The attack comes amid continued security concerns along some roads in Eastern Equatoria State, where travellers have occasionally been targeted by armed criminals, despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to improve safety along major transport corridors.
Authorities have not announced any arrests, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Road ambushes remain one of the major security challenges in parts of Eastern Equatoria State, particularly along routes linking Torit with Magwi and neighbouring areas.
State authorities have repeatedly condemned attacks on civilians and government officials and have pledged to strengthen security patrols and bring perpetrators to justice.
The latest incident is expected to renew concerns over the safety of road users and public officials travelling within the state as security agencies continue efforts to track down the attackers.