A police prison warden in Aweil Prison on Tuesday evening opened fire on inmates who were protesting a shortage of food for the past three days. The incident took place inside the main prison compound in Aweil town at around 4:30pm.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, an eyewitness who lives near the prison said that the prisoners complained three days ago to the authorities about the bad living conditions inside the prison and shortage of food that they are facing.

“Today the inmate took up in demonstration as the prisons authority did not response to the demand place some days ago by the prisoners, which resulted into the shooting of four and killing of one,” said the eye witness

The witness said that the four wounded inmates were rushed to the hospital for treatment and currently taking medication in Aweil hospital. He further said that the shooting caused panic and fear among the residents in Aweil town leading to the closure of the main market that is located near the prison.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj from the scene, Aweil Prison Director Paul Chol confirmed the incident and said that the policeman who shot dead one inmate and injured four others is now behind bars awaiting investigation

The officer said that the prisoners were protesting and they with throwing stones at the police warden that resulted into the shooting to calm them down. The director did not give any further reason for the demonstration. He confirmed that the victims are in the hospital for medication and said that the names of the deceased man is not known but will be checked in the registry.

He further suggested that the victims might have not been charged of murder according to their stay outside he said.

In the street of Aweil, the killing of the inmate and injuring four others is received with wider condemnation as some citizens said that the police man is the one to keep law but know that they take the law into their own hands.

In another development, one man in Aweil town ran amuck and last month killed more than ten people and displaced many citizens from their villages in fear for their lives. All those villagers took refuge in the town, one week ago the same person reportedly came and attacked a nearby village killing one person taking three women and one child hostage and their whereabouts are not known, said one of the residents.