The incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. in Warawar Payam, along the road linking Majok-Yithiou Town and Wanyjok. According to officials, the victim, identified as Jackson Deng, was ambushed by unidentified assailants as he rode home after a business trip.
Deputy Payam Administrator Aken Geng confirmed the attack in an interview, describing how Deng was overpowered and left stranded after the robbers fled with his motorbike.
“The man was riding to Wanyjok to collect goods when he was waylaid at Warawar. They took his motorbike and escaped. Security forces have been deployed to pursue the suspects, who remain at large,” Geng said.
The administrator urged residents of Aweil East to cooperate with security forces by sharing any information that could lead to the arrest of the culprits.
He warned that criminal activities not only threaten lives and property but also carry severe legal consequences.
“I am appealing to our young men in this state and across the country to desist from crime. Those involved will eventually end up in prison,” he cautioned.
This latest robbery marks the second such attack reported in the area in recent weeks. Geng revealed that another man was killed earlier this month while traveling from Majok-Yithiou, underscoring growing security concerns along the busy route.
To prevent further incidents, authorities have stepped up patrols along the Wanyjok–Majok-Yithiou highway, which connects to the border with Sudan.
Geng emphasized that suspects found guilty of such crimes face prosecution under South Sudan’s penal code, which prescribes up to two years in prison for robbery offenses.
Highway robberies have increasingly plagued the region. Just last month, a trader was gunned down along the same route, and large sums of money were stolen. In that case, the suspected gunman was later apprehended by security forces.
Local authorities say they are determined to curb these attacks and restore public confidence in the safety of cross-border trade routes that are vital for communities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
