At least three people lost their lives and a police vehicle was set ablaze after gunmen ambushed it near Kotobi Village in Mundri West County, Western Equatoria State.

The attack took place last Friday as the vehicle was travelling back from Yambio.

It had been used to transport newly recruited police officers from Mundri East and Mundri West for training.

A local resident, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told Radio Tamazuj that the vehicle was attacked before it reached Kotobi.

The victims included one police officer, an SSPDF soldier who had boarded in Maridi while heading towards Jambo, and a civilian from Karika who was travelling to Mundri.

The recruits form part of the 1,200 new officers recently announced by the Western Equatoria State government.

State Police Commissioner Justin Wai Wai confirmed the incident, noting that the ambush occurred after the vehicle reached the Kotobi area.

He said one police officer was killed and that no suspects have yet been arrested. He described the attackers as unidentified criminals.

State Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Abel Sudan condemned the assault. He said unknown gunmen ambushed the police vehicle, stole several firearms—including a PKM machine gun—and then set the vehicle on fire.

“Security forces responded, but by the time they arrived the police trainees had already fled into the bush,” Sudan stated.

He added that this was the third time a government vehicle had been burnt in Mundri West. Previous incidents involved a National Security Service vehicle and one belonging to the county commissioner.

Sudan said the repeated attacks are disrupting the movement of both officials and civilians.

He called for stronger security along the roads and urged armed groups in the area to pursue dialogue instead of violence.

He also appealed to communities across Western Equatoria to support peace and development so that people can travel safely, do business, and send their children to school.

Mundri West County Commissioner Zelpha Dawa, who is currently in Juba, said she was unable to provide further details at this stage.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities have not publicly named those involved.

The incident has heightened concerns about insecurity on the roads linking Mundri West, Mundri East, Maridi and Yambio.