By Baraka John
The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has denied allegations made by the commissioner of Nagero County regarding the deaths of six SPLA-IO soldiers and the injury of 15 others. Major General James Akech, the commander of the SSPDF Infantry Division 6 in Western Equatoria State, called the claims “baseless” and unsubstantiated.
The controversy began when Henry Bangada Isaya, the Commissioner of Nagero County, reported on Tuesday that an attack had taken place near Duma Boma on Monday night. Isaya, a member of the SPLM-IO party, accused Brigadier General James Nando, a senior SSPDF Officer, of leading the assault. According to Isaya, Nando’s troops attacked civilians on their way to Kubri Bou, killing six people and wounding 15 others, while hundreds of locals fled their homes in fear.
In an interview with the media, Isaya stated that he was alerted by his people in Nagero that Nando’s forces had reached Duma Boma and were causing chaos. He claimed the attack targeted civilians, resulting in deaths and injuries.
On Monday night were informed that General Nando is on his way coming to Tombura, meanwhile he was coming to my County Nagero, reaching Duma Boma my people began to call me that Nandao has reached Duma causing chaos assaulting the civilians along the road and killed 6 others leaving 15 injured.” Bangada stated
However, Major General Akech swiftly dismissed these claims in a statement on King News on Wednesday. Akech explained that Brigadier General Nando had been assigned to inspect the removal of illegal checkpoints between Tombura and Kubri Bou Road. He clarified that Nando’s unit was ambushed by armed assailants who opened fire before fleeing the scene, but no civilians were harmed during the incident.
Akech emphasized that Nando’s mission was peaceful and related to the government’s recent efforts to clear illegal checkpoints along key roads. “There is no proof that Nando killed anyone.
When he was coming from Tombura, Nando was moving peacefully, we told Nando to inspect the checkpoints that we have removed, maybe they have been reinstated back. Nando is a Brigadier General from the SSPDF he is not a militia. He added. People came out on the road and shot bullets and fled away, so Nando did not touch any person. so if there was any person whom Nando might have killed, the army commander in the area would have informed me, so the commissioner’s report is false and is an allegation, Nando did not kill any person or burn houses or rob people’s belongings.
Additionally, SSPDF spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai confirmed that the military had successfully removed all checkpoints in the Kubri-Bou area, which borders Western Equatoria and Western Bahr El Ghazal states. The removal of these checkpoints was part of a broader security initiative prompted by reports of clashes with SPLA-IO troops, which had led to the displacement of civilians in the region.
The claims of the Nagero commissioner come amid ongoing efforts by the national government, in collaboration with state and administrative area governments, to remove illegal checkpoints along major national roads and waterways. This directive was reinforced at the 2025 8th Governors’ Forum, aimed at improving security and free movement across the country.