Intelligence operative shot dead in Torit

JUBA – A member of South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) has been shot dead by an unknown gunman in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state capital Torit, according to the authorities there.

Police spokesman in Western Equatoria state Major Justine Kleopus Takuru said the killers remain at large and that the government was conducting an investigation into circumstances which led to his killing.

“We received a complaint at around 5:30 am (Tuesday) that there is someone fallen down and can’t move and nobody knows whether he is alive or dead. So we sent out a team who went and confirmed that person is dead,” he said, according to Radio Tamazuj.

“He was shot from the left side and the bullet passed through the right side so it was discovered he is a soldier from the national security by name Joseph Lagu Sarafino,” Maj Kleopus explains

“Investigations have started, this incident happened at exactly 12:26 am by two or three. She (a neighbor) heard the sound of a gun, the sound of a gun is not so much high and the man died but the neighbor couldn’t come out. So, in the morning people going to Kinetye River through the road found his body dead that why we have to continue with our follow-up,” he continued.

Following the killing, national security officers are reported to have ordered traders at the market to close their shops as they patrolled the market while heavily armed. This sparked panic in the town.

Eastern Equatoria State Information Minister Patrick Oting Cyprian apologized to the traders and urged them to do their business as usual.

“It was unfortunate that security personals went around closing the market without informing the concerned authorities which are the mayor of Torit municipality and the minister of trade. On behalf of the government for the traders, I want to apologize for what happened, and please if you have not heard any information of reopening the shops am saying on behalf of the government that you open your shops,” he stated.