Armed men have shot and killed a top army officer allied to the country’s first vice president Taban Deng Gai in Maridi town on Monday night, a local official said.

Canal Tabu Salahmandia was killed at his home in Maridi town.

Maridi’s information minister Peter Saki told Radio Tamazuj that gunmen on Monday night went to Tabu’s home at Hai Tarawa and killed him.

Mr Saki said police officers rushed to the home and found Canal Tabu dead and that police are investigating the motive of the killing and are hunting for the perpetrators.

He confirmed that the late army officer was loyal to the defunct SPLA-IO group loyal to Taban Deng Gai.

Eyewitnesses said Canal Tabu was shot and killed while eating his supper in his own house in the area. They said the incident caused fear and panic among local residents.