Police authorities in South Sudan's Lakes State have said that armed criminals suspected to be from Aluakaluak Payam of Yirol West County killed a police officer and a civilian on Sunday.

According to the police, armed youth from Alualuak Payam of Yirol West County went and raided two ox-plows in a village in Akot Payam of Rumbek East County.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, the police chief inspector of Alualuak Payam of Yirol West county Michael Mayor Malaak said a student was killed by the owners of the stolen ox-plows as they pursued the criminals. He also added that a policeman was killed as he tried to pursue the criminals. 

Mayor said one of the suspects identified as Angoot Makur Alak is arrested in Alualuak Payam, while two other suspects identified as Mawut Madol Marial Buoc, and Laat Makoon Akuany who made away with the ox-plows are still at large.

"The security forces are working hard. The commissioner of Rumbek East County will be responsible to arrest that person who killed the student, and the commissioner of Yirol West county will be responsible to arrest the criminals who killed the soldier in Alualuak Payam," he noted. 

Those killed were identified as Madut Malou Majok, a student, and Panchol Madit Ijonga, a police officer. 

The police in charge of Rumbek East County Brigadier General Makur Dak confirmed the incident and said the security situation is calm as security forces pursue the armed criminals.

The Executive Director of Alualuak Payam Daniel Ichok Dhieu said that a suspect has been arrested, "I am now coordinating with local people in the area so that the two ox-plows are rescued from the armed criminals who went to Akot and raided them." 

Ichok urged the government to prioritize civilian disarmament in the state saying, "The only solution to this rampant insecurity in Lakes State is for the government to prioritize disarmament of civilians."