A prison warden guarding inmates. (Photo: © 2010 Pete Muller|Human Rights Watch).

Armed bandits have shot and killed a prison officer on Friday along a highway in Tonj South County of Warrap State, a government official said.

William Koji, the Minister of Information in Lakes State said Matueny Akuot Anyar was killed at 5 PM in Manyangok Payam, where he had gone to visit his family.

“One of the prison officers from Cueibet County left for Tonj South, and within Tonj, he fell into the ambush of criminals and was shot dead. I think that’s what happened yesterday,” said Koji.

The deceased was a prison officer with the rank of First Lieutenant and based in Cueibet County of Lakes.

The government information minister said the authorities in Tonj South have identified the alleged perpetrators and promised to arrest them soon.

“The forces of Tonj South County are working very hard to make sure that the culprits are arrested. The commissioner of Tonj South said the criminals are known and that they will be arrested.”

The minister also dismissed as fake news, social media reports alleging a cattle-raiding incident involving the neighboring states of Lakes and Warrap.

On Saturday morning, several sources on Facebook posted unverified information that raiders have attacked a cattle camp killing one person.

But Koji said there was no such incident and urged the public to rely on official information from state officials.