Ezo County Commissioner Luciano Bakinde says citizens have fled the area after Wednesday's skirmish between SPLA soldiers and a local armed group in which at least three people were reported killed and two others wounded.

Luciano told Radio Tamazuj that the area has been entirely deserted by citizens after the clashes between the SPLA and local community over theft of food items belonging to the Refugee Affairs Commission by an unknown group.

After pushing out the unknown group the SPLA continued to randomly shoot in the air, causing fear among residents who fled.

However, the commissioner claimed yesterday the security was calm, but all local residents ran into the bush.

"Today there is no problem, the shooting has stopped, there was a sporadic shooting, but it has stopped," he said. "There is no any citizen, all the citizens have run away, there are no any citizens in the town."

He pointed out that he is still seeking protection at the Prison Service headquarters while SPLA forces were deployed in the town.

On Wednesday, the county official explained that the incident took place when the SPLA forces tried to pursue a group believed to have stolen food items 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.