At least three people were killed and two others wounded in clashes between SPLA and civilians in Ezo County in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State on Wednesday afternoon, a local official said.

Ezo County Commissioner Luciano Bakinde told Radio Tamazuj that a boy, a police officer, and an SPLA soldier were killed and a citizen was wounded when fighting erupted between the SPLA army and the citizens in the town.

The county official explained that the incident took place when the SPLA forces tried to pursue a group believed to have stolen food items in storages belonging to the Refugee Affairs Commission in the area.

Bakinde pointed out that he heard about what happened from an SPLA commander in the area, while denying knowledge about theft of the food items by an unknown group.

Random shooting in the town lasted for about five hours which forced the population to flee, according to the commissioner.

The Ezo county commissioner said he had sought protection in the Prison Service headquarters where there were police and security forces.