Anthony Osoro, a commander in the SPLM-IO, on Tuesday accused government forces of attacking Lodu area in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Osoro said government forces attacked the area on Monday after a fire brigade officer who fled from Torit. The officer was allegedly involved in breaking into an armory and seizing guns.
“The fighting started yesterday around 3:00 pm. They have entered into civilians areas and beat them. They started fleeing the area,” said Osoro.
He said government forces fired shots in the air and brunt several houses, forcing the opposition to confront them.
Osoro added that the clashes led to massive displacement of the people from villages to the bush. He said there were casualties but did not provide more details.
Meanwhile, local sources in Torit said dozens displaced people arrived from Lodu village, raising fears among residents in Torit that fighting could reach their area.
The sources said the government of proposed Imatong state announced a state of emergency in the area.
The deputy governor of Imatong state declined to comment when reached by phone.
SPLA spokesman Lul Ruai Koang denied any knowledge about the incident.
SPLA-IO spokesman William Gatjieth Deng said the SPLA-IO was attacked at Loronyo in Kapoeta county. He alleged that civilian villages were burned besides looting of properties and assaults on women and girls as soldiers demanded to know the location of SPLA-IO.