Kenyan truckers ferrying goods to South Sudan are in apprehension following the abduction of four of their colleagues.
According to Daily Monitor, the four Kenyan truckers were abducted at gunpoint by unknown men at Terekeka area and have not been found since.
Terereka is in the northern part of Juba, South Sudan’s capital.
A ransom of Ksh4.8 million (15 million South Sudan pounds) has been demanded by the gunmen. They say that without the ransom money, they will not release the captives.
A month ago, five Kenyan truckers were involved in a deadly ambush along Sudan’s Juba-Nimule Highway.
According to Sudan’s Eye Radio, the five Kenyan truck drivers were ambushed by armed men at 6 am shortly after departing from Obama Village.
One of the witnesses, Medelina Nyoka recounted that a driver and a lady occupant who is her sister were both shot dead on the spot.
“We were going to Nimule and we had just left Obama…our car was shot close to where de-mining is taking place,” the witness recalled.
“They shot the driver and my sister Sunday. She was shot in the chest.”
The incident has been confirmed by Deputy Spokesperson of South Sudan National Police Force Col James Dak.
He said that police were sent to the scene but is yet to confirm if the gunmen set them on fire to conceal evidence.
Three of the ambushed Kenyans trucks were ferrying fuel while two others were transporting general merchandise according to David Kerote, the Kenya Truck Drivers Association Chairman.
The bodies of two drivers were unrecognizable as they were burnt beyond recognition while the three others are yet to be found.
