Senior traffic officer gunned down in S. Sudan’s Lakes state

September 11, 2014 (RUMBEK) – A group of unknown gunmen attacked and killed a senior police officer on Wednesday in South Sudan’s Lakes state.

According to the criminal investigation department (CID), Lueth Turic, the deputy director of Lakes state’s traffic police, was attacked at his house in the Chumchok residential area by a group armed men. The suspects remain at large.

A senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said that killings of senior officials and the targeting of high profile individuals was on the rise in Lakes state capital Rumbek.

The officer said he was aware of Wednesday’s incident, describing the first lieutenant’s death as “very sad”.

The Lakes state government has become increasingly unpopular with local residents, with many refusing to share information with authorities on crime-related matters.

Police insist that the poor relationship between state government and the public is leading to further hardship for local residents and makes it increasingly difficult to investigate serious crimes.

Students, traditional leaders, intellectual and activists have distanced themselves from Lakes state’s military caretaker governor, Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol, who has been blamed for failing to curb ongoing violence and insecurity in the state.

(ST)