The commissioner of Jebel Boma County in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), Jeremiah Lothiboi, the area’s SSPDF commander, Col. Kaka Thombum, and 13 other people were killed on Tuesday morning when their convoy was ambushed on the outskirts of Nyat town.

GPAA Information Minister Abraham Kelang told Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that the local government officials, the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) commander, and their bodyguards were among the 13 killed individuals while four others were injured.

He said the victims met their fate on Tuesday morning while returning from Nyat where they had gone for an assessment.

“On Monday, the commissioner, area SSPDF commander, and other officials went to Nyat Payam to assess the area and they slept there. This (Tuesday) morning at 10 a.m. while returning to Jebel Boma town after they completed their mission, they were waylaid,” Kelang said. “The commissioner, the accompanying SSPDF commander, and 13 other people comprising bodyguards and local politicians were killed. Four other people were injured.”

The minister condemned the attack and said investigations were underway to establish the identities of the assailants and their motives.

“They were attacked in an area called Takarau, just an hour from Nyat on foot. Those attackers were heavily armed youth but we are yet to find out where they came from,” he stated, and added: “We are also yet to establish the identities of the 13 politicians and security officers who were killed.”

Meanw, Maj. Gen. Khamis Marjan, the GPAA police commissioner, said he was not aware of the attack on the commissioner’s convoy.