Three persons were killed when soldiers and policemen exchanged fire in Abiemnhom County of Ruweng State on Saturday, a local official said.
Michael Malek Yak, Commissioner of Abiemnhom West County, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that two soldiers and a civilian from Mayom County were killed during random shootings at a police station in the county.
He explained that the incident occurred after a man from Abiemnhom was killed by cattle raiders from neighboring Mayom County.
“After the cattle raid incident, civilians who hail from Mayom ran to a police station in Abiemnhom to seek protection because they were scared. When a crowd of citizens went to the police station in order carry out revenge attacks, soldiers were immediately ordered to come to help the police in providing protection to those Mayom citizens, but when the soldiers arrived, random shootings erupted at the police post,” he explained.
He further said five persons including two national security officers and two security guards of Abiemnhom East County Commissioner were injured in the incident.
“The shooting started when soldiers came to the police post,” he said.
The local official pointed out that they had transported Mayom citizens to their areas after the situation returned to normal in the county.
He added that investigations into the incident are underway.