The deputy governor of Western Equatoria State says houses and properties have been destroyed in Mundri West County by SPLA soldiers.

Officials have been complaining that arrow boys, a local vigilante group, were causing insecurity in the area.

They also said that an unknown group was recruiting youth with the aim of setting up a military training.

Deputy governor Bullen Abiatar told Eye Radio that as a result, a battalion was sent to Mundri West and Mundri East on Wednesday to look into the matter.

However, the soldiers, he said, opened fire as they entered the town, setting houses ablaze.

“Nobody attacked them [SPLA]. They came safely. Only by themselves they started shooting. Most of the town of Mundri West has been burnt. That is very terrible,” Mr Abiatar said. “A good number of grass-thatched houses burnt; even lodges.”

The deputy governor said this led to displacement of residents.

“The worst thing is that people are now hiding in the bushes.”

The SPLA spokesman, Col Philip Aguer, told Eye Radio that he has not received any report on the incident.

“I will have to ask the commander of Division Six, who is in charge of the security forces there to tell us what happened,” Col Aguer said.