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Kenyan Truck Drivers Abducted in South Sudan – Reports

Kenyan Truck Drivers Abducted in South Sudan – Reports

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Four Kenyan long-distance cargo truck drivers and two turn-men have reportedly been kidnapped by unknown gunmen at Terekeka town in South Sudan, media reports in Uganda indicate.

The town is located on the Western bank of the Nile, 53 miles North of the capital Juba, the Daily Monitor adds.

It is said the kidnappers are demanding 15 million South Sudan pounds (about Sh4.8 million) in exchange for the freedom of the captives.

Besides the Kenyans, a Ugandan truck driver identified as Vincent Mulika, alias Kamanda, is battling for his life at Juba Referral Hospital after he was allegedly beaten into coma by military and immigration officials in South Sudan.

Mulika was reportedly beaten on Wednesday in Nesitu, along Nimule-Juba highway, while transporting cargo to Juba aboard his truck Reg. No. UAJ 174T.

He becomes the latest Ugandan truck driver to fall victim to the attacks along the Nimule-Juba highway which are mainly targeting foreign cargo drivers from the neighbouring East African countries plying the route.

The highway is a lifeline for South Sudan, which imports almost everything, and for people travelling to Uganda.

Kenyan truck drivers prefer transporting goods to South Sudan through Uganda, which serves as a shorter distance with a better road network.

But in recent months, gunmen have ambushed convoys of trucks returning to Uganda along the same road, injuring scores and killing dozens of others.

In March, unknown gunmen waylaid cargo fleets and shot dozens of truckers, killing 13 and injuring several others.

The Kenyan victims have only been identified as Mohammed, the driver of truck registration KBS 735W with his turn man Abdirizak; the driver of KBM 742R, Shueb who was driving truck registration SSD 512S and Abdillahi and his co-driver, they were aboard KBT 720J truck.