At least one SSPDF soldier was killed and another one injured in a clash with armed youth at a forest in Koch County on Thursday.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, County Police Director General John Jock Deng confirmed the killing and the injuring of the SPDF personnel.
He said the attackers also escaped with one PKM general-purpose machine gun.
The clash is suspected to have been prompted by a crackdown against revenge killings that took place last month, in which three men lost their lives.
Later, a suspect in the murder of two people reportedly escaped from detention at Leer County during the operation of mobile court in the area.
Jock said that the SSPDF soldiers were attacked when the armed criminals received information about their pending arrest for killing the three people.
Koch County SSPDF Commander Riek Lam Bol said orders had been issued to the Commissioner to arrest the murder suspects.
He disclosed that no arrest had been made following the clash, adding that the manhunt was ongoing.