A bodyguard of the Vice President in charge of Economic Cluster, James Wani Igga, has reportedly shot dead his colleagues before turning the gun on himself in Juba on Friday, vice president office confirmed.
According to the deputy press secretary of the vice president, Nelson Leju, the drunked bodyguard – “a wounded hero”, shot dead a lieutenant colonel and injured two other soldiers, a captain and Lt. Connell.
“It was around 9:30 Am when a drunken soldier assigned to the residence of the vice president, Kerbino Garang Akok, was under the influence of alcohol and started shooting his seniors here at the residence. And after that, he committed suicide by shooting himself dead too,” Leju said.
He identified one of the victims as Lt. Colonel Paul Honorio Pitia.
The VP spokesperson said the bodyguard acted under the influence of alcohol.
However, an insider who spoke on condition of anonymity said the body guard shot his senior colleagues over pay dispute.
“The main reason for him shooting those high-ranking officials is because he was not paid his money. Not sure if this payment was for salary or other benefits,” said Daruka (not real name).
Police spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin said police has launched an investigation into the incident to establish the cause of the shooting.
“About the cause, it’s purely a criminal case. We have opened the case and we are investigating,” Justin said.