Authorities in Mayom County of South Sudan’s Unity State say the security situation had returned to normalcy after seven bodyguards of Mayom county commissioner were killed in an ambush on Sunday.

James Chuol Gatluak, Mayom county commissioner, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that his bodyguards were sent to recover over 100 stolen cattle by armed youth from neighboring Warrap State. 

“My seven bodyguards were killed and three others sustained serious injuries and were admitted at the state hospital. Nobody was killed or wounded from the armed youth’s side because my bodyguards had not received orders to shoot,’’ he said.

Commissioner Chuol accused former SSPDF General Stephen Buay of the attacks. "General Buay has already defected and he is not with the government at the moment. His armed youth are crossing into borders between Twic and Nuer areas," he said.

Meanwhile, Unity State government spokesperson Gabriel Hon Makuei assured the people of Unity State and Mayom County, in particular, to remain calm and allow the government to apprehend the culprits.

“There is no need for more fighting while we have just come out from conflict that killed many people. The government must talk to the youth to find out whether there are politicians behind them or they are just criminal youth who provoke the situation to get what they want,’’ he stressed.