Panic and fear gripped Lankien town on Wednesday morning after an airstrike hit Ngundeng Secondary School while students were sitting for their Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) examinations.
According to local authorities, around 20 candidates were in the examination hall when military aircraft attacked the area. One student sustained minor injuries, while the rest fled into nearby bushes for safety. Many only returned to town later in the evening after the situation calmed.
The airstrike reportedly affected several parts of Lankien, forcing residents including families with children to abandon their homes in search of safer ground.
Nyirol County Commissioner Peter Gatkuoth Koang, appointed by the SPLM-IO, condemned the attack, accusing government forces of deliberately targeting civilian areas, including schools, women, and children.
Commissioner Peter, called the bombing a “clear violation of international humanitarian law” and urged authorities to halt further attacks.
An official from the State Ministry of Education confirmed receiving reports about the incident but said further details are still being gathered.
Civil society leaders also expressed outrage. Activist Ter Manyang described the attack as a blatant assault on the right to education, stressing that schools are protected civilian institutions and should never be bombed under any circumstances.
Activist Ter, urged regional and international actors to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) could not immediately be reached for comment.
The incident adds to a worrying pattern of attacks on schools and health facilities in conflict-affected areas of Jonglei and Upper Nile, where airstrikes and clashes continue to disrupt learning and threaten civilian lives.
