A policeman was on Thursday killed after he was attacked by gunmen in South Sudan’s Tambura State.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, the State Minister of Information Anikumbo Mathew Aime confirmed the incident, saying that the policeman was attacked at Ringasi area of Nzara County.
He identified the victim as Sergeant Emmanuel Mathew Dagbayosa.
The minister pointed out that the policeman was on his way back to the state from neighboring Gbudue State when armed men attacked him.
Aime, who is also the state government spokesman, claimed that the attack was carried out by forces loyal to the opposition group South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC) led by former Western Equatoria governor, Joseph Bangasi Bakoroso.
He urged the opposition group’s leadership to withdraw its forces from the road linking the two states.” We urge them to take the command responsibility because we are peace partners,” he said.
The official urged SSNMC forces to allow free movement of people in the state.
For his part, SSNMC leader Joseph Bangasi Bakoroso rubbished state government's accusations about his forces being involved in attacks as 'baseless allegations'.
“The allegations are not true. We are not involved in the alleged attack on a policeman in Ringasi,” he said.
Bakasoro pointed out that his forces are far away from the area where the incident took place. “We are not aware of the incident and the allegations are unfounded,” he said.