The governor of Lol State, Rizik Zechariah, says seven of his bodyguards were killed in the attack on Raja town on Wednesday.

Mr Rizik said the attackers targeted his house, forcing him to withdraw from the town after the killing of some of his bodyguards.

He has accused some anti-government forces of the attack.

A resident in the town says thousands of civilians are returning to the town.

Mr Kon Abaker also confirmed that most of the shops in the main market, banks and houses have been looted.

“The markets are not working; a number of shops have been looted, and they even looted banks. And you cannot do anything because there is no money,” Mr Abaker told Eye Radio.

The spokesperson of SPLA, Brigadier Lul Ruai Koang, says details of the fighting are still not clear.

But he told Eye radio their soldiers wounded in the fighting have been taken to Aweil for further treatment.