At least 10 traders were on Saturday killed by suspected bandits along the common border between Sudan and South Sudan, a South Sudanese official said.

Northern Liech state security adviser Gordon Malou Chiling told Radio Tamazuj this morning that armed men attacked a group of traders, killing nine Sudanese and one South Sudanese.

“The attack took place between Daira and Kaikang areas in Mayom County. The area is not far from the border with Sudan,” Malou said.

The security official explained that the traders were shot and killed when rickshaws they were traveling in fell into an ambush near the border with Sudan.

Malou accused bandits from the disputed territory of Abyei of carrying out the attack. The security adviser condemned the incident describing it as painful.

For his part, Abyei Area’s Security Adviser Keilek Kon said they are aware of the deadly attack near the border with Sudan.

However, Kon denied any involvement of armed youth from Abyei in the attack, which has killed 10 traders and injured three others.

“We heard that some traders were killed and several others sustained injuries near the border, but we don’t know the attackers. The incident actually took place near Daira area,” he said.