A police officer was shot and killed at his home during a nighttime attack by unknown gunmen in Hai Al-Motamadiya in Wau town on Christmas Eve.

Julio Marcello was at home when unidentified gunmen attacked his house and shot him dead, multiple sources told Radio Tamazuj.

For his part, a relative said that Marcelo was shot by unknown gunmen after he returned back home around 8:00 pm. He pointed out that they took him to Wau Teaching Hospital for treatment, but he later succumbed to his injuries and died.

Wau town and surrounding areas have witnessed continued security tensions, but citizens in the southern part of the town took to the streets to celebrate on New Year's Eve.