Unknown gunmen kill 13 farmers near Renk town: official

At least 13 farmers including a pregnant woman were killed and two others wounded in an attack by unknown gunmen on Madoj village in Renk County in South Sudan’s Eastern Nile on Monday, a government official said.

At least 13 farmers including a pregnant woman were killed and two others wounded in an attack by unknown gunmen on Madoj village in Renk County in South Sudan’s Eastern Nile on Monday, a government official said.

Jacob Lam Chan, Information Minister in Eastern Nile State, told Radio Tamazuj today that unknown attackers killed 13 farmers in a village near Renk town.

 “Madoj village is about 45 mintes away on foot to Renk town, so the attackers came and killed 13 farmers who were cultivating groundnuts including a pregnant woman, and two people were also wounded,” said Chan.

The minister pointed out that the state government condemned the incident, saying investigations are underway to identify the perpetrators.

Separately, Jacob Lam disputed reports that internally displaced people who are currently sheltering inside the UN camp in Malakal are being targeted by government soldiers in the town.

“It is not true, because women used to come out, and youth also used to come out, so there is no problem, if there is anything, the UN peacekeepers would have reported it, because they [citizens who venture outside the base] are being escorted by the UN forces,” said the minister.