Residents of Wonduruba in Central Equatoria state have alleged that government forces killed five people last week who were trying to look for food in the area.

The incident took place on Thursday, 14 January when SPLA soldiers found civilians who had fled earlier attacks to Lainya county but had returned to Wonduruba in search of supplies.

"They went to collect food from their abandoned homes and they were found by the government forces then killed," one resident said, adding that the bodies were buried on Friday night.

The incident was believed to have happened in Gobur, one of the villages of the area. The residents said the dead included one old man and four young men. They said some of the dead bodies were found tied while one person was shot trying to escape.

Government officials contacted by Radio Tamazuj for comment confirmed the incident but could not give details saying they are still gathering information.

Other residents revealed that on 11 January 2016, another person was killed in Takuni village of Wonduruba area, but they did not say who was responsible.

Thousands of villagers from Wondurba fled last year following alleged attacks by SPLA against civilians following reported clashes with rebels. They have been living in the bush with little access to food.

The SPLA signed a local peace agreement with the community at the end of 2015.

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