The National Democratic Movement (NDM) has issued a statement calling on authorities to investigate and bring to book perpetrators of Malakal attack that claimed atleast 10 lives this weekend.

Civilians were said to have killed and others wounded by unidentified armed group during the arrival of the area governor Budhok Ayang Kur for the swearing in ceremony on Saturday.

The victims were among those who went to welcome the governor from the airport.

“Up to yesterday (Saturday) evening, the death toll has reached 12 persons and unknown higher number of wounded. It is a massacre and the culprits must be brought to account.”

“So far there has been no action taken against the attackers. The most disturbing aspect of the ugly episode is that, according to the eyewitnesses among the people shot at, some of the attackers were wearing army and police uniforms,” the NDM statement partly read.

However, the initial report on Saturday morning indicated that three IDPs died and five others were wounded in the incident.

The motive behind the attack is not yet clear.

Malakal Municipality, inhabited by three main ethnic groups of Chollo, Dinka Apadang and Nuer, has been battered by violence and controversies.

Recently, Chollo community objected the move by the national government to relocate Makal County headquarters out of Malakal town.