Six bodyguards of South Sudan Vice President James Wani Iga have been shot and killed, The Tower Post has learnt.

According to Wani’s spokesperson Kalisto Lado, the six were shot in an ambush mounted on their convoy on Wednesday evening.

Mr Wani was lucky to survive the ambush as he was not in the convoy when it came under fire at his home village of Lobonok, south of the capital, Juba.

“A vehicle the bodyguards were travelling in was destroyed and burnt by rebels from the National Salvation Front (NAS),” Kalisto told the BBC.

Mr Igga is one of five vice-presidents in South Sudan. He is in charge of economic affairs.

The rebel group is yet to issue a statement on the attack.