Lakes State spokesperson Maj. Elijah Mabor Makuac identified the victims as Matur Acuoth and Madit Benyther.
He stated that the officers were likely on a routine patrol to protect wildlife from poachers when they were attacked by armed assailants believed to be from neighboring Panyijiar County in Unity State.
“We are still gathering more information about that particular incident to acquire more information about the incident simply because we are not sure whether these two wildlife victims who were killed by Panyijiar armed youth, were the only people moving around or there were people who were accompanying them,” Makuac said.
“According to the information, these are wildlife personnel who usually use to move around those areas of Among-piny Payam to the monitor their wild animals from being killed by the poachers. So, we are still investigating to find out whether there are a lot of information and then it will be communicated,” he added.
Authorities are still working to recover the bodies of the slain officers due to the remote location of the incident.
Makuac called for cooperation from Unity State authorities to apprehend the perpetrators and address recurring cross-border violence.
“Well, I am urging our counterpart in Unity State to continue with those cooperation to monitor these criminals who are penetrating criminal activities along the border areas between Unity State and Lakes State and more especially between Panyijiar and other counties of Lakes State which is Rumbek central and Yirol East county,” he said.
“So, I am urging our counterpart particularly the security personnel in other side of Panyijiar county to monitor and encounter these criminals and they must be brought into book such that all the criminal activities are stopped,” he concluded.