At least two people were killed and another injured by armed robbers in Juba Wednesday morning, according to eyewitnesses and police authorities.

A group of criminals armed with Ak-47s attacked three houses in Gudele Block 5 and shot dead a 20-year old man. The same group of criminals then moved to another house and shot dead a child and wounded his mother after they refused to open their door.

The police have confirmed the arrest of suspects who were all from the organized forces and are being investigated.

In Malakia residential area, the police also arrested a suspect who attacked some houses at gunpoint to steal.

Crime rate is increasingly growing in Juba due to economic hardships that have hit the country since December 2016. Civil servants in both the central and state governments have not been paid their salaries for almost five months.