South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
At least one person was killed and four others were seriously injured during a gun fight on Tuesday between the forces of the National Security Services and the personnel at Paloch Airstrip in Northern Upper Nile State.
Chok Zain Arop, Melut County Commissioner told The Dawn on Tuesday that the conflict erupted after the leadership of the National Security Services ordered their disarmament, resulting in a gun fight.
“Their administration ordered them to put down their guns, but they refused and immediately started shooting, and security at the airport responded, and four of them were wounded; one of them died at the hospital,” said Arop.
Arop stated that approximately 60 members of the national security forces stationed at Adar in March expressed their desire to return to Juba.
“The general in charge of forces went to them this morning and talked to them, but they refused to listen to him, and their administration gave a report to the leadership that those soldiers came to the airport and refused to leave the airport,” he said.
He explained that the leadership of the operations unit arranged for the forces to be transported by vehicle to their headquarters; however, the group instead fled toward the airport in an attempt to fly back to Juba.
“They were asked to go to the division where they can talk to the administration, and they were taken with a vehicle, but they alighted near the division, and they moved to the airport on foot.”
Arop disclosed that the injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
He confirmed 16 people were arrested, adding that the situation has returned to normal.
“The situation is now normal at the airport, and people are going about their normal business. Sixteen have been captured, and their guns have been taken from them. The situation is now normal,” said Arop.
