Four local youth who were involved in a skirmish with a group of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) soldiers at an airstrip in Longechuk County in Upper Nile State on Tuesday have been apprehended.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Chol Atem Jongeth, the state police commissioner, said the incident started after a small group of youths opposed to Longechuk County Commissioner Dak Tut Dey invaded the airstrip with intentions to block his return from Juba. Two of the youths were shot and injured during the fracas.

“What happened in Mathiang town on Tuesday morning was that a group of armed youth went to the airstrip to block the commissioner from returning from Juba because they are opposed to the commissioner,” he explained. “The clashes occurred between the youth and SPLA-IO soldiers, two youths were injured and they are now being treated at a hospital there.”

The police chief disclosed that calm has since been restored in Longechuk County and that investigations were going on.

The embattled commissioner, Dak Tut, also confirmed that the county is now calm after the incident orchestrated by a group of youth he insists was influenced by politicians who want to have him thrown out of office.

“What happened yesterday at 8 am was merely a power struggle. A group of four youths were mobilized by some politicians to attack security forces because they heard that I want to return from Juba,” he said. “The reason is that some politicians are engaging youth to have me removed. In the clashes, two of the youths were injured and two others were immediately apprehended.”

The county commissioner said the arrested individuals were being investigated and that they would later be arraigned in court.