At least 14 people have been killed and seven others are in critical condition after unknown gunmen attacked Camp 15 area in Loriok Payam of Eastern Equatoria's Budi County on Sunday morning.

Among those killed are 12 women and two. Those injured were transferred to Kapoeta Hospital where they are receiving treatment, officials said. 

Aliandro Lotok, the state governor's press secretary told Radio Tamazuj that the unknown assailants struck in the middle of the night while people were sleeping. 

“We lost 14 people in a surprise attack in Camp 15 of Budi county and the seven people got injured and have been transferred to Kapoeta Hospital for treatment, the attack took place at 1 am this morning (Sunday)”, Lotok said.

 Lotok said the governor is disturbed at the incident and has launched a search to pursue the attackers. 

“The government has already directed the military to launch a serious search for the attackers and that the government will do what it takes to bring the culprits to face the full wrath of the law including those who burnt down the SPLA-IO cantonment site in Lowareng," he added. 

For his part, David Eriga, the acting secretary-general in the greater Kapoeta area has called for calm among the community there as the government investigates the killings. 

“These attackers are not known yet up to now and those killed the majority are women, 12 are women and 2 men while those injured are in critical condition. With this heat, everyone is sleeping outside and they were taken unaware as they were killed in cold blood," he confirmed. 

The Secretary-General for civil society network eastern Equatoria state Mr. Ocheng Philiph Clement condemned the attack and urged the government o ensure the perpetrators are brought to book.

“First of all, I would like to condemn and stay condolence to the families there. People are still implementing the agreement and also silencing the guns now this killing occurred. There should be thorough investigations regarding the origin of these attackers and those involved should be brought forward," he demanded. 

Last Monday, five SPLA-IO soldiers were killed and their homes torched when unknown gunmen attacked the Lowareng cantonment site in Kapoeta South. Until now, the perpetrators are still at large.