Residents of Thongpiny neighbourhood in Juba woke up this morning to news of the shocking death of a policeman who shot himself in the vicinity of the ice factory.

Police officer Lukudu, 27, shot himself with an AK-47 rifle in his possession shortly after a telephone conversation with his wife.

Relatives told Radio Tamazuj that Lukudu was working as a security guard for the ice factory owned by a Lebanese investor at Thongpiny residential area. The relatives said they did not know what happened between Lukudu and his wife.

Police authorities said investigations are underway.

Cases of suicide are on the increase in South Sudan with police attributing it to economic challenges.