By Kei Emmanuel Duku
A horrific highway ambush has claimed the lives of two university graduates and an infant, sparking a wave of grief and outrage across Mayiandit County. The victims were traveling along the Rumbek-Mayiandit highway when they came under attack by a suspected group of youth from Maper.
In an official statement released by the Commissioner’s Office on January 6, 2026, following the attack, the Mayiandit County Commissioner expressed his deepest shock over the killings. He described the incident as barbaric and demanded immediate accountability for the senseless bloodshed.
The victims have been identified as Nyamal Riang Chan and Nyabuok Manyang-both identified as graduates—along with an infant named Nyakuong.
John Matip Gatluok, the Commissioner of Mayiandit County, issued a scathing condemnation of the attack, describing the loss of life as a “senseless act of violence” that demands the immediate attention of authorities.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the brutal killing of three innocent civilians by Maper youth along the Rumbek-Mayiandit highway,” Commissioner Gatluok stated. “This senseless act of violence is unacceptable and demands immediate attention”.
The Commissioner emphasized that the people of Mayiandit County are both shocked and saddened by the incident. He issued an urgent plea to the authorities in Maper to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.
Despite the gravity of the attack, Gatluok extended his gratitude to the government of Maper for their intervention during the crisis. He noted that their prompt action prevented further bloodshed and saved the lives of other civilians during the incident.
As the community grapples with the tragedy, the Commissioner called for peace and urged all parties involved to exercise restraint. He emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to the incident to avoid further violence.
“With a heavy heart, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones during this tragic incident,” Gatluok said. “May their memories comfort you as we mourn their souls, and may Almighty God rest their souls in eternal peace”.
The local government maintains that the “barbaric” nature of the attack against defenseless graduates and a child must be met with the full force of justice to ensure safety along the region’s vital transit routes. Authorities in the Maper area are yet to issue a statement acknowledging the attack or denouncing the incident.
The Rumbek-Mayiandit highway has historically been a volatile route, frequently plagued by inter-communal tensions and retaliatory attacks between rival youth groups. Tensions between the youth of Mayiandit in Unity State and those of Maper in Lakes State have often centered on cattle raiding and historical grievances, occasionally spilling over into violence against civilians traveling through the area.
While the national government has made efforts to establish peace committees and deploy security forces along major highways, remote border areas remain susceptible to sudden outbreaks of violence.