Torit, Eastern Equatoria State | August 6, 2026: Unidentified armed men ambushed a group of vehicles traveling along the Torit–Magwi road in Eastern Equatoria State on Thursday, killing a government driver and injuring a prominent state lawmaker, according to local officials and eyewitnesses. 

The deceased driver, who was reportedly working for the Eastern Equatoria State government, had not been identified by authorities at the time of publication. 

Among those caught in the attack was Major General Emilio Igga, the former commissioner of Magwi County and the current state Member of Parliament representing the Ma’di area in Torit. Sources said Igga sustained a gunshot injury to his leg and was receiving medical attention. 

Former Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Health, Dr. Margaret Itto Leonardo, was also traveling in the convoy but escaped unharmed. 

Officials had not yet confirmed how many vehicles were involved in the ambush, and security agencies had not released details regarding the number of attackers or the circumstances surrounding the assault. 

The incident has raised questions about why the two senior officials were reportedly traveling without an armed escort, especially on a route that connects Torit with Magwi County and serves as a key corridor for civilians, traders, and returning residents. 

Eyewitnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attackers appeared to have targeted the convoy deliberately. Some speculated that the assault may have been intended to intimidate or discourage the recent increase in returnees arriving from neighboring Uganda. 

However, no evidence has emerged to support that claim, and authorities have not identified any group responsible for the attack. 

Residents and local observers have circulated several theories about the identity and motives of the assailants. Some suggested the attackers could have been criminal elements or armed groups operating in the broader region. Others mentioned the possibility of actors seeking to inflame tensions between the Ma’di and Acholi communities, while another theory pointed to anti-government rebel elements attempting to create insecurity ahead of South Sudan’s planned December elections. 

These claims remain unverified, and officials have urged the public to avoid speculation while investigations are underway. 

The ambush has shocked many residents because the Torit–Magwi road has experienced little or no reported violence in recent months. The route has generally been regarded as one of the safer roads in Eastern Equatoria State, particularly compared with other areas that have previously faced insecurity. 

Security forces had not issued an official statement by Thursday evening, and no arrests had been announced. 

Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the killing of the driver, the injury of MP Emilio Igga, and the circumstances surrounding the attack on the convoy. 

Opio Bosco Onen 

SSLN