The governor of the proposed Wau state has notified different security forces in Wau town to be on a maximum alert, warning them of an alleged impending attack on the town anytime, multiple military intelligence and security officers said.
The officials said Elias has held high level security meetings on Friday and Saturday at which he declared to have received confidential information about armed opposition forces preparing to stage an attack on Wau town.
To preempt the impending attack, according to military officers, the governor distributed fuel to security forces and army in Wau town to enable them to prepare for operations.
A high level security officer said Sunday that rumours have rippled through Wau town over the past days that an attack could take place at any time after the governor met and held meetings with different security organs in the area.
“Governor Elias on Friday went to Grinti [the headquarters of SPLA’s fifth infantry division in the area] and gave them 20 drums of fuels. He came to us [at the security service] and gave us three drums of fuel. He said this is to enable us prepare for operations against the impending attack on the town,” said a security officer, who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Governor Elias also held separate meetings with prominent community figures in Wau to inform them of the developing political and security situation in and around the town.
From 11 to 12 pm on Saturday he went to the house of Andrew Makur, a prominent Anyanya war veteran and former Sudanese diplomat.
Andrew Makur later instructed ethnic Dinka community elders in town to limit their movements and cooperate with security forces.
“If security forces come into contact with you and ask you to stop, please comply and stop immediately. Don’t hesitate, don’t resist. They have a mission,” Makur said, according to a source who attended the briefing to Dinka community elders.