A renowned Sudanese trader was on Thursday night killed by unknown gunmen in South Sudan’s Wau state capital, Wau.

The deceased, Al-Nur Abakar Idris, hailed from Sudan’s western region of Darfur.

The deceased’s brother said that Al-Nur was shot and killed outside his home at Hai Derega in the town of Wau by unknown gunmen, saying the killers were being searched for.

Zachariah Joseph Garang, deputy governor of Wau State, said Al-Nur was a friend of several state government officials, pointing out that the government is still searching for the culprits.

“It is actually a great loss. We promise that the government will apprehend the perpetrators and our citizens should cooperate with us,” Garang said.

Local residents of Wau told Radio Tamazuj that Sudanese traders at Souk-Jou market closed their shops on Friday to mourn the death of Al-Nur.

"We are not going to open the market today (Friday) to mourn the death of our colleague and brother who was killed,” one of the Sudanese traders said.