A newly appointed commissioner of Wonduruba County in Jubek State was killed on Thursday when his vehicle drove over a landmine, the state government said.
Jubek Governor Augustino Jadallah said in a statement on Saturday that the commissioner’s vehicle drove over a landmine along the Wonduruba-Lainya road.
He further said Commissioner James Yata and three soldiers were killed in the incident.
Jadallah noted that the newly appointed county commissioner was traveling to Juba city to take the oath of office.
“He was on his way to Juba for swearing-in, but unfortunately the car stepped on a landmine and the car blown. We lost the commissioner and three soldiers,” he said.
Mathew Taban, bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Wonduruba also said James Yata was killed after car he was traveling in hit a landmine near the border of Lainya County.
The religious leader confirmed the incident took place on Thursday.
“It is not true that the commissioner was ambushed. The car was just hit by a landmine,” he said.
The bishop further said the security situation was stable in Wonduruba County.