The government of Wau state in South Sudan has urged citizens not to take the law in their hands against members of the army who break the law following the lynching of a soldier who shot a woman.

In a meeting with chiefs and community leaders held at the government secretariat in Wau, Governor Elias Waya called upon citizens to respect the rule of law by reporting any cases of harassment by members of the organized forces in the state.

Last week citizens in Hai Kositi residential area in Wau stoned an SPLA soldier to death after he shot a woman in the area.

A prominent chief in Wau who preferred not to be named told Radio Tamazuj that the citizens have lost confidence in organized forces who are supposed to protect them and not to kill and loot them.

He said some of the organized forces are reluctant to arrive to crime scenes when contacted and take days to arrest culprits.

Citizens in Wau town have complained of attacks by members of the organized forces whom they said are killing them and looting their properties.

Radio Tamazuj learned that the governor of Wau state Elias Waya has traveled to Juba on Monday to meet with President Kiir over issues related to security situation in his state.