The opposition National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirillo has claimed responsibility for the killing of six bodyguards of Vice President James Wani Igga on Wednesday.

The convoy of the vice president’s bodyguards came under attack by NAS forces in Lobonok area in which six bodyguards were killed and two others injured.

Lobonok is located about 30 kilometres south of the capital Juba on the east bank of the Nile.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, NAS spokesman Suba Samuel said they attacked the vehicle because they believe it was going to collect information on NAS defensive positions in the area.

 “NAS has been monitoring the reconnaissance mission of this Toyota Pickup for sometimes. The Toyota Pickup is often used by SSPDF to collect intelligence information on NAS defensive positions in preparation for attacks and displacement of civilians in the villages,” said Suba.

The hold-out opposition group signed a truce agreement with the government in Rome on January 12, 2020.

"We had to reciprocate the government’s failure to respect the Rome Declaration by launching attacks on many areas of NAS in Equatoria,” said Suba.

He added, "The agreement is just on paper and not applied in reality because the government started violating it since the beginning of April this year."

The opposition group, which is not a party to the 2018 revitalized peace deal, said it remains committed to the cessation of hostilities agreement signed in 2017, but reserves the right to self-defence.