Army condemns brutal highway killing, holds General Cirilo responsible

JUBA — South Sudan army has condemned Monday’s killing of five travelers including two Catholic nuns following a highway attack by unknown armed men, saying General Cirilo’s National Salvation Front (NAS) is behind the brutal killing.

On Monday, a convoy of vehicles on their way to Juba from Loa Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Torit was ambushed resulting in the killing of at least five people including the two Catholic nuns.

General Thomas Cirilo’s group has dismissed initial accusations by the government that it was behind the killing, accusing instead the government security agencies of being responsible.

However, army spokesman Major-General Lul Ruai Koang said the National Salvation Front is behind the deadly attack and said it condemns the criminal activity.

“Those sisters and three other innocent civilians were brutally murdered by NAS rebels loyal to General Thomas Cirillo. The SSPDF general headquarters condemns in a strongest team possible indiscriminate targeting of none military target, and called on the regional and international bodies to hold NAS accountable,” Lul said, according to Eye Radio.

“SSPDF would like to assure the people of South Sudan that it is committed to protect its citizens wherever they are and the killing that was witness was a work of terrorists that do not hold the love of the people of South Sudan,” he added.