Three passengers killed, seven others wounded in Gambella bus attack

The bus that was carrying the passengers to Gambella fell aside on Wednesday 27, March, 2024 [Photo: Courtesy]

At least three South Sudanese were killed and seven others severely injured after a passenger bus got ambushed in Gambella, Ethiopia.

According to Bia-Kel Media, the Nuer community chairman in Gambella, John Bang, said the bus was attacked by unknown gunmen in Iteng between the border of Gambella and Akobo on Wednesday.

“The assailants attacked the bus that was carrying passengers from Akobo going to Gambella region. Upon its arrival in the forest, it was surprisingly ambushed by the criminals and all the passengers were in shock and they were just screaming while in the vehicle as the attackers were firing at them,” Bang said.

He said the assailants killed three people, while seven others sustained severe injuries.

Bang noted that among the people killed were two women, a nine-year-old girl and an Ethiopian man.

“The criminals have wounded three people and killed three people. Amongst the people killed was a nine-year-old girl, two women and an Ethiopian man,” he stated.

He alleged that the attackers might have been the armed youth from the Anyuak community, adding that they had been the only armed group ambushing passengers along the road in the forest.

“We are suspecting the armed youth from the Anyuak community. They are the ones that used to attack traders and passengers going to Akobo or coming from Akobo going to Gambella,” he stated.

Bang further noted that some passengers dispersed into the forest and were not yet found.