CORRECTED: 3 killed along Juba-Nimule highway

JUBA — At least three people including a driver have been killed and an unknown number of passengers are still missing after a group of unidentified armed men opened fire on a Bongo bus along the Juba-Nimule highway, police said.

The Police Spokesperson Maj. General Daniel Justin said the passenger bus was traveling from Nimule to Juba when it fell into ambush leaving three people dead.

“We lost three people, the driver, assistant driver, and one of the passengers,” Justin told reporters during a press conference in Juba on Tuesday.

General Justin said the incident happened at 11: 09 AM between Oboma and Omoya village.

“The incident happened between Oboma and Omoya village along Nimule-Juba road. It is actually very unfortunate; one of our Bongo buses was traveling from Nimule to Juba and fell into an ambush in the area,” Justin said.

Justin said the unknown gunmen opened fire on a Bonga bus, killing three people instantly, and ran into the bush.

“The attackers just open fire on the vehicle and then they ran away. Our forces went there and rescue the situation and now the big trucks which were traveling between Juba and Nimule are using the road normally,” he said.

He said the attackers were only targeting the driver and his assistant, adding that there were 40 passengers on the bus.

He said the security forces are after attackers.

“Our forces are after them, but the security situation is normal and vehicles are moving normally along the Juba-Nimule road.”

NOTE: An earlier version of this story said that seven people were killed, according to eyewitnesses.