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Authorities in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area and Bor County have given different accounts of an incident along the Gul–Kothchar road in Manyabol Payam, Gumuruk County.

Greater Pibor authorities say three civilians were killed on Monday afternoon after suspected armed attackers crossed from Bor County in Jonglei State and opened fire.

Information Minister Jacob Werchum Juok said the attackers were riding about 50 motorcycles and fled after the attack.

“They crossed the border into Greater Pibor and attacked civilians along the highway between Gul and Kothchar areas of Manyabol Payam, Gumuruk County. The attacks claimed three innocent lives,” Werchum said.

However, Bor County Commissioner Samuel Ateny Pech gave a different account, saying six hunters from Bor who were using three motorcycles went missing after they allegedly clashed with hunters from the Murle community in Greater Pibor.

“They went for hunting. They were six of them on three motorbikes. According to the report, they clashed with hunters from Murle land. Those six have not returned, and the three motorbikes have been taken to Pibor,” Ateny said.

The two accounts could not be independently verified. The incident comes amid continued insecurity along the Greater Pibor–Jonglei border, where communities have experienced recurring violence linked to intercommunal tensions, cattle raids and revenge attacks.

Authorities from both sides have called for cooperation to establish what happened and prevent further violence.