A South Sudanese man working for Plan International in Jonglei State has been killed by suspected David Yau Yau rebels in Pibor County, Radio Jonglei reported yesterday.

The Pibor County Commissioner Joshua Konyi Irer said Peter Milan was taken from his house in Gumuruk Payam in front of his family on 2 November by armed men suspected to be fighting for a rebel group in the area led by David Yau Yau. His wife and children were not harmed in the attack.

Radio Jonglei, based in Bor, cited the official as saying that the rebels waited in Thiangnyang for two days for Milan’s relatives to negotiate for his release. The Gumuruk community sent 25 cows to the rebels with the hope of securing his release.

According to the commissioner, the rebels accepted the cows and promised to return Milan the next day but they reneged and killed Milan and left the area taking the cattle.

Konyi said that Milan was a retired SPLA soldier. He had also been trained in de-mining.

The commissioner claimed that it was this expertise that led to his kidnapping, as the rebels wanted him to join them.