Gunmen have reportedly killed over a dozen people in Yei and Kajo Keji counties of Central Equatoria state over the last week.

Speaking to the press at his arrival to Juba yesterday, area governor David Lokonga said there are unknown gunmen trying to destabilize the security in the area.

“Seven people were abducted and taken from their homes at night, there were taken to unknown place. Five people also were killed,” said Lokonga.  

He said according to some survivors who were abducted by gunmen there is a group called itself Red Devils behind these acts.

Separately, a concerned citizen in Kajo-Keji County accused the SPLA of reportedly murdering eight young men and torturing them with hot metal following the return of Dr Riek Machar and the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity, Catholic Radio News reported.

The anonymous citizen said since Machar came back to Juba, continuous arrests and tortures of youth in Kajo-Keji County have become the order of the day.

The citizen said the SPLA alleges that the youth of the area are supporters of first vice president Machar.

The source called on the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission and the Transitional Government of National Unity to intervene by ordering the SPLA in Kajo-Keji to stop threatening and killing civilians.

The South Sudanese citizen appealed to President Salva Kiir to order his army deployed in the area not to turn against citizens and their property.

Meanwhile, Kajo-Keji County Administration has denied any knowledge of the alleged tortures and killings of youth.

File photo: Yei town