The army and security forces in Lagawa town of the western Nuba Mountains have reportedly seized eight motorcycles and made it more difficult for people to enter the town from rebel-held areas.

Lagawa is bordered by some SPLA-N controlled areas, but they have not seen major conflict as have other areas of the Nuba Mountains. The people from the rebel-held areas have even been free to go into town to the market.

“Even the soldiers of the people’s army [SPLA-N] go to the market, but they don’t go wearing uniforms – they just go as civilians. Nobody bothers anybody or asks somebody who he is,” explained chief Ameer Tutu Abdullah.  

But over the last week there have been increased tensions in the area.

 The Nuba chief explained that the recent tensions started when some youths committed some “crimes” that have brought problems, specifying that youths of the Wali tribe allegedly shot at a soldier.

Security agents since seized eight motorcycles from people coming from SPLA-controlled areas. The chief said that he met the locality commissioner over the issue and they are trying to resolve it.