December 27, 2024 – Duk County Local authorities in Jonglei State’s Duk County have reported that three youths were killed and six others injured in an ambush by armed assailants in Duk Padiet Payam on Christmas Day. The injured have been airlifted to Juba for medical treatment.
Speaking to Radio Taazuj, John Chatim, the Duk County Commissioner, stated that the ambush occurred while the youths were patrolling near their farms on the outskirts of Duk Padiet Town.
“What happened in Pachoknyieth was that some women went out early in the morning to harvest grain from their farms. They saw footprints near the fields and returned to inform our youth,” he explained. “When our youth went to patrol the area, they were ambushed. Three were killed, and six others were injured.”
The commissioner accused armed youth from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) of orchestrating the attack.
“The claim that our people were fighting among themselves is false,” he said. “This was an ambush carried out by armed Murle youth from GPAA, resulting in the death of three youths and injuries to six others. The injured have been airlifted to Juba, where they are currently receiving treatment.”
Responding to the accusations, Jacob Werchum Jouk, the GPAA Information Minister, denied any knowledge of the attack.
“We are not aware of this incident,” he stated. “What evidence do they have to accuse our youth? Our youth remain within our territories.”
