16 youth group members have been arrested after a brawl in Lakes State over leadership positions left a person dead and 10 others injured on Sunday, a local official said.

The incident, which involved members of Awerial Youth Union (AYU), took place in the Mingkaman area of Awerial County.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Barnaba Mayor, the Secretary-General of the defunct Eastern Lakes State, confirmed the arrest of 16 people from two rival groups on Sunday.

“One group called for elections, citing the expiry of the term of office, but the other group demanded that a state government has to be formed first before the elections could be held. So this dispute resulted in fighting. And as a result, one person was injured, but he later succumbed to his injuries in Bor hospital,” Mayor said.

He added, “We arrested 16 people from the two groups. We have been engaging community chiefs and the family of the deceased not to revenge as the law takes its course.”

The official said the suspects are being investigated in the town of Yirol. He urged the aggrieved family to be calm and allow justice to prevail.