Road linking Tonj and Wau|Courtesy

Two female passengers sustained serious gunshot injuries after a commercial vehicle was ambushed along the Wau–Tonj road on Friday evening, police in Western Bahr el Ghazal state confirmed.

According to Major Santino Udul Mayen, the state police spokesperson, armed elements allegedly loyal to the SPLA-IO under the command of Major General Bol Wek opened fire on a Land Cruiser vehicle traveling from Wau to Juba.

“An isolated incident occurred [on the] Wau–Tonj road where a commercial vehicle traveling from Wau to Juba was ambushed and shot at by armed elements loyal to SPLA-IO under the command of Major General Bol Wek that has resulted into injury of two female passengers,” said Mayen.

“One sustained gunshot at the back and one at her right hand fingers.”

Mayen said both victims are currently receiving treatment at Wau Teaching Hospital.

“Both victims are currently receiving medical treatment at Wau Teaching Hospital while the police commands are actively investigating the incident in coordination with relevant authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book,” he said.

Despite the attack, the police assured the public that the overall security situation in the area remains stable.

“The overall security situation in Wau town and across Western Bahr el Ghazal state remains calm and under [the] effective [control] of the police and other security agencies,” said Mayen.

He urged the public and commercial transport operators to remain calm and continue their regular activities.

“I want to assure [the] public and the other road users plus all the commercial vehicles to continue their business as usual,” he said.

“As I already stated, we have deployed our personnel and continue routing patrol at all checkpoints and other police activities are ongoing to deter and promote public safety along Wau road.”

Efforts to contact SPLA-IO for a comment were not immediately success.  In past some road attacks were attributed to banditry, cross border crimes and revenge.