Two local traders were killed in a road ambush in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) on Saturday, authorities said.

Acting Pochalla County Commissioner Owety Olung said that the two men were transporting goods to Pochalla Town from Ethiopia’s Gambella region when they were attacked by armed assailants between Kut-Budi and Tedo areas on Saturday afternoon.

“On Saturday, four men left Ethiopia for Pochalla with goods on motorbikes. While on the road between Kutbudi and Tedo areas, they were attacked. Two of them were killed on the spot while the others escaped unhurt,” Owety explained. “Those killed are Omot Omot Odiel, 20, and Adwo Thawan Ojwai, 21. The other two men escaped and crossed to Ethiopia but all their goods were also looted.”

The county commissioner condemned the attack, said it was barbaric, and said their elements from the neighboring Pibor were involved in the attack.        

Lt. Col. Amati Ochan, the police inspector in Pochalla County, confirmed the killing of the two businessmen.

“Those business people left Pochalla for Piny-Udo to get goods. It was while they were returning that they fell in an ambush,” he stated. “Two people were shot dead while two others survived.”

“According to eyewitnesses, the attackers were Murle,” Lt. Col. Ochan added.

Efforts to get a comment from GPAA Information Minister Abraham Kelang were futile as his known phone numbers were not reachable.