Unidentified gunmen killed the paramount chief of Wau County in Western Bahr al Ghazal state Angelo Bagari on Monday, according to authorities. His wife was killed with him and his daughter was injured. Local government minister Angelo Taban said the incident occurred between 12:00 and 1:00 am.

"The report we have is that the incident took place after people have gone to sleep," Angelo said. "We heard that it was after midnight when the masked gunmen came and dragged him out of his room and killed him in this barbaric manner."

Taban condemned the killing, assuring the citizens they would pursue the perpetuators and bring to them to face justice if found.

"As a government we condemned it and urged our people to remain calm. We asked them to allow the government the opportunity to pursue perpetuators so that they would face the full force of the law once they are found. The government will leave no stone unturned," he vowed.

The official said the state government has dispatched security personnel to the crime scene where the chief and his wife were killed. The objective is to conduct an on the ground investigation to unearth the circumstances about the incident, he said.