The bodies of nine missing civilians were found brutally killed in Gimunu village in Yei River County that were previously reported missing, according to eyewitnesses and local officials.

Police authorities in Yei announced last week that three missing villagers were found killed while six others were still missing in Gimunu area. The other six missing people were found killed in the bush and they were buried yesterday.

Alfred Asu Bullen, Francis Joja James, Thomas Taban Ezibon, Charles Lasu Morris, Rejoice Konga, Peter Abe Oliver, Ajo Lo Ezibon, Amule Lo Jongu and City na Cosmas Lawuya were found killed in Gimunu area, several villagers told Radio Tamazuj.

A relative of one of the victims who preferred not to be named said that the nine civilians were picked inside their houses by government soldiers based in Atende and later they were found killed in the bush.

“Our beloved family members were picked by government soldiers and brutally killed in the bush located three miles away from the village. We have discovered their dead bodies and now they have been buried in a mass grave here in Gimunu village,” he said.

“What we want from the government is to identify these soldiers, investigate and take them to court,” he stressed.

For his part, the Commissioner of Yei River County, Denis Lasuba Paul confirmed six dead bodies only, saying thorough investigations into the incident are underway.

“There were skeletons found on the outskirts of Gimunu and reports from my office indicate that it was a confirmation of six civilians who went missing. This time I am able to confirm that the six were found dead and thorough investigations are being done now and we are taking it as a very serious case,” said Denis Lasuba.

Last week, Joseph Bakosoro’s movement claimed that nine people including a woman were captured and tortured to death in Yei County after civilians were encouraged to return to their homes by the government following the signing of the recent peace pact with a breakaway faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In- Opposition (SPLM-IO) in Yei.

"On June 9, 2017, militias loyal to President Salva Kiir were travelling from Tore to Juba via Yei. They arrived in Gimunu, about 7 miles from Yei on Yei-Juba road, and captured 8 unarmed men and 1 unarmed woman, all civilians, who came from Atende and Koya villages, the group said in a statement.