By Matik Kueth
The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) Spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang reported on Monday that one Somalian national had been killed and four other captives were rescued in an outrageous ambush on the Juba-Terekeka Road.
In a statement, Koang accused the SPLA-IO of being backed up by potentially local armed groups, resulting in the hijacking of two trucks in separate incidents.
He stated that the first ambush occurred between Koda and Nyori on a truck traveling from Bahr El Ghazal to Juba, resulting in the tragic murder of one Somali national and the truck being set on fire.
“On 1st May 2025, SPLA-IO rebels, waylaid at intervals, two trucks moving in opposite directions along Juba-Terekeka Road. The first vehicle to fall in an ambush between Koda and Nyori was a truck en route from Bahr El Ghazal to Juba. The fatal ambush resulted in one Somali national getting killed and the truck set ablaze,” Maj. Gen. Lul stated.
Hours later, at around 11:30 a.m., he said, a second ambush occurred at the same spot, with a 30-ton truck en route to Gok-Machar, Awiel North County, loaded with commercial items and carrying six crew members being hijacked.
Koang explained that the hijackers drove the vehicle to the SPLA-IO base in Bye Bye, but the truck stalled before reaching its destination, forcing them to unload the cargo in the jungle.
“The second ambush, on a truck en route to Gok-Machar, Awiel North County, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, occurred at 11:30 AM, at the same scene. The 30-ton truck, Reg. NO.SSD 545AJ, transporting commercial goods with six crews, was hijacked and driven towards the SPLA-IO base at Bye Bye,” he said.
According to Koang, the rescued individuals, who endured a “48-hour ordeal,” reported “physical tortures” and having “five smartphones stolen and personal belongings, including SSP4,000,000 million, equivalent to $600 USD.”
He stressed that operational intelligence had “revealed that some armed elements from Terekeka County had been conducting deadly road ambushes, acts of banditry, armed highway robberies and hijackings,” with SPLA-IO rebels joining.
The spokesperson cautioned armed groups not to participate in SPLA-IO offensive operations against military and non-military targets, and to cease and disengage immediately.
Considering ongoing security issues, Koang urged motorbike riders to avoid nighttime travel to avoid potential danger.
“SSPDF command advises motorists, especially those not under armed escorts, to avoid night travel to prevent unnecessary loss of lives, goods, and equipment in transit,” he stressed.
He reaffirmed the army’s steadfast commitment to protecting the citizens and ensuring the safety of major transportation routes.
However, in an exclusive interview with King Media, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA-IO’s Spokesperson, refuted the allegations, citing SSPDF’s strange activity along the roots on the outskirts of Juba.
“The SPLA-IO read with dismay the baseless accusations made by the SSPDF spokesperson trending on social media that the SPLA-IO forces ambushed civilian trucks along Juba Terekeka Road. This is a fabrication to cover up the SSPDF’s usual criminal activities along these routes. The SSPDF have been robbing civilians not only along Juba – Bar El Gazal Road but also Juba-Nimule Road and always blame either NAS or SPLA-IO forces,” Col. Gabriel said.
He pointed out that the SPLA-IO is a national movement that prioritizes civilians over tribes, nationality, or association, adding that their forces do not attack civilians at their residences or on the roads.
Col. Gabriel appealed to the government to stop using SPLA-IO’s name as a scapegoat to justify future attacks.