South Sudan’s armed opposition group led by Riek Machar has accused government soldiers of killing civilians in Akobo Centre County on Tuesday.
John Daniel Bol, the opposition-appointed secretary of information in Bieh State, said:” A group of government soldiers left their base in Waat and attacked innocent civilians at Lony and Mantiwiet villages in Akobo Centre on Tuesday. The attack resulted in the killing of five civilians.”
He added, “The government soldiers claimed that their colleague was killed by unknown people in the area. The government soldiers launched the attack on civilians after the reported killing of their colleague.”
The opposition official told Radio Tamazuj that six civilians were also detained by the government forces after the attack before being released in the town of Waat.
Daniel urged the government to control its forces in the area.
Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang could not immediately be reached for comment.
Separately, John Daniel said the opposition governor of Bieh State Simon Hoth Duol has made inspection visits to the opposition-held territory in Bieh State.
“The governor started with Padding area because it has been witnessing inter-communal clashes. The governor urged the people of Padding to live peacefully side by side,” he said.