A photo grid of MTN antennae and window shattered by bullets. | Photo: Napoleon Adok/Twitter

Two engineers sustained bullet wounds on Saturday after a car belonging to the mobile telecommunication company – MTN came under attack in Tore Payam of Yei River County, the local government confirms.

 The incident occurred at Tisa Mile, an area situated between Yei Town and Tore Payam.

Yei River Commissioner Cyrus Kanyiqwa said a vehicle taking the engineers to do maintenance on an MTN tower in the Tore area was shot at by armed elements.

Cyrus said the two engineers, who sustained bullet wounds, have been transferred to Juba for treatment.

“The incident was an attack on an MTN car. The car was carrying two engineers going to fix an antenna in Tore when the MTN car come under attack,,” Cyrus.

The official alleged that the attackers are five armed men linked to the National Salvation Front (NAS).

“Later, the security identified that they were five armed elements which they followed to be the armed group of NAS of Thomas Cirilo.”

Eye Radio could not independently verify the claims and efforts to reach out to NAS were unsuccessful.

“They attacked the MTN car, and the passengers were rescued. I think the bullets got both of them, they are in Juba for treatment and they gone through surgery.”

Commissioner Kanyigwa said Saturday’s attack was the third incident in Yei and Morobo Counties, and blamed the NAS of being behind the insecurities.

But NAS has often denied carrying out road ambushes on travelers.

Meanwhile, the Director General of National Communication Authority Napoleon Adok thanked the local government for responding to the incident.

“I share my gratitude to the authorities in Yei for their prompt intervention. I visited the affected victims, and I continue to wish them a quick and full recovery,” Adok said.