The Commissioner of Rumbek North County urged the national security to probe into the fatal shootout between security officers that took place at Mayendit, Unity State, last week, killing 37 people, mostly officers.
Last Thursday, security officers accompanying Rumbek North County Commissioner Isaac Mayek Noah engaged in a fatal gun battle with fellow security officers from Mayendit and Tonj East counties.Commissioner Mayek told Good News Radio that the incident at Mayendit needs to be investigated to establish what provoked the first gunshot.
He said criminals were behind the shootout.
The commissioner called on the national security to take the lead in probing into the fatal conflict and bring to book the culprits.
He urged the Commissioner of Mayendit to help in the investigation because the shootout took place in his territory.
Mr Mayek said he was invited to attend the Mayendit meeting for public relations and cross-county coordination.
He added that there were also delegations from Unity’s capital Bentiu and Juba, including United Nations representatives, some legislators, and senior security officials.
Mr Mayek said the shootout stated when he was introducing himself and his team to the participants.
He added that the gun battle went on for over two hours.
Mr Mayek said he was accompanied by two platoons, three bodyguards, some army officials, administrators and the chief inspector of police and his deputy for security precautions.
He said the road from Rumbek to Mayandit was long and dangerous and he had to take some extra security measures to prevent any surprise attack.
Mr Mayek confirmed that 21 security officers from his team were killed in the gun battle.
Unity state information Minister Gideon Gatpan said the County Commissioner of Rumbek North was not invited to the meeting between the county commissioners of Mayendit and Tonj East.
He questioned why Commissioner Mayek came with a convoy of six pickups mounted with heavy machine guns.