Cuiebet County police have confirmed that a veterinary doctor died and another person wounded in a road ambush between Abiriu and Abieicok payams.
Doctor Chol Mawan, an employee of the Vétérinaires sans Frontìeres Germany (VSF), and his colleague were ambushed by unknown gunmen on Friday while traveling in a VSF vehicle to Rumbek on official duty.
"We are suspecting the rivalry sections of Pagok, Kongor, and Waat, but an investigation is ongoing and we are following the suspects. He was shot dead by unknown criminals in the vehicle and the foreigner that was traveling with him to Rumbek was also wounded," Acting Commissioner of Police in Cueibet County of Lakes State Machar Majak Muorwel told Radio Tamazuj.
Muorwel said more security forces have been deployed to protect people residing in Cueibet town.
The secretary-general of the defunct Gok State Zeckariah Mamer Thokgor urged the relatives of the deceased to remain calm and allow the government to handle the situation.
He said the government managed to deter a group of relatives who wanted to stage a revenge killing in Cueibet town after hearing the incident of killing in a road ambush.
"There is no suspect that has been apprehended yet for investigations, but security forces have been sent out to follow the suspects. "said secretary-general Mamer Thokgor.
VSF project coordinator in the defunct Gok State Vincent Machogu confirmed the incident.
"The one who was killed is a VSF project manager working in Cueibet," said Machogu.
He urged the state government to apprehend suspects and bring to book those involved in the attack.
"We are appealing to state authorities to apprehend the suspects and investigate the motive behind the killing of VSF Doctor Chol Mawan as soon as possible because we don't know, whether it was revenge or something else," Machogu appealed.
Last week, the western donor community in South Sudan expressed their concern regarding the escalating attacks on national and international humanitarian aid workers in their line of duty.
They called on the government and all parties to provide a safe environment for humanitarian workers and tackle the violence and access impediments recurring in the country.