At least two gunmen were shot dead on the outskirts of Yambio town in Gbudue State while allegedly attempting to rob a civilian, a local official said.

 The identity of the town gunmen remains unclear. The incident occurred on Thursday night when gunmen attempted to rob a resident at Yabongo residential area.

The Minister of Information in Gbudue State, Gibson Bullen Wande, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that two men in military uniforms were shot dead around Yabongo area. The government, he said, condemned the incident and warned those in military uniforms to desist from stealing and attacking civilians at night.

“This is really unfortunate incident and I confirm to you that two men in military uniforms went to the house in which the owner was fortunate to have a gun and opened fire on them and then shot them dead.  When the report came to us in the morning, we went and discovered that the two men happened to be members of the SPLA-IO who defected to the government,” he said.

Bullen urged all organized forces in the area to show respect and protect civilians. He claimed that the security situation was stable after the incident in the area.