By Chol D. Johnson
Suspected land grabbers have killed two police officers and injured other three in Jebel-Amianin, Gumbo sherikat residential area on Tuesday.
During the land operation, it was confirmed that a young female officer was killed with her colleague.
Several police officers had been ordered by the operation commander to address illegal land grabbing in the area however they were later attacked.
According to sources, the attack occurred at the construction site of Bakhita Medical Centre early in the morning when the joint operation force arrived in Jebel-Amianin.
Anonymous source revealed to this outlet that some land grabbers open fire on the officer of the land in the area.
The source reiterated that land grabbers were well armed just like the police who arrived the disputed land. “One of the suspects who had been previously arrested mobilized other land grabbers and intentionally opened fire on the operation force,” a source who is a police officer on ground told this publication.
The suspects reportedly claimed ownership of the land, which prompted them to engage violently with the security personnel.
The source confirmed that two members of the operation force were killed, while three others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
The suspects have been arrested and are in police custody.
According to the officer who reported the case, they will face justice according to the law.
“This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. Land grabbers have been threatening the community for some time,” the source added.
The source also explained that the land grabbers often resell plots, even after an initial purchase, forcing buyers to pay for the same land multiple times.