A South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) officer and his bodyguard have been killed in an ambush in Koch County, Unity State.
The attack took place on Wednesday as the men were travelling from Leer County to Koch County, according to local authorities.
Koch County Police Director, Brigadier General John Jock Deng, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the pair, identified as a Second Lieutenant and his bodyguard, were attacked by armed youth.
The assailants took a PKM machine gun and the bodyguard’s firearm.
Brig Gen Deng said the attackers were led by Gatluak Majok, who escaped from a prison in Leer during a mobile court session nine months ago. Majok had been arrested in connection with the murder of Wuor Manyang in Koch market last year.
“The government forces are looking for them,” Brig Gen Deng said. “The bodies were brought to the county headquarters yesterday.”
He added that authorities suspected the group responsible might seek to join the opposition SPLA-IO.
The names of the deceased have not yet been released.
Local sources report that security tensions in Koch County have risen since the SPLA-IO appointed Bany Makon Chany as its military commissioner for the area.