A 22-year-old man was killed in a suspected shootout between security forces and a group of gangsters in the town of Wau in the western Bahr el Ghazal province.

The young man was reportedly killed in crossfire when the night security patrol exchanged fire with suspected criminals during a birthday party in Hai Motomadia.

Wau Town Mayor Dasio William Taban told Radio Tamazuj that security organs arrested eight young people suspected of possessing drugs, including marijuana.

The suspected killer is said to be from the National Security Service and remains at large.

“We received information that a civilian was shot and killed yesterday. “We want to tell the residents of Wau that what happened yesterday was a crime and the situation is under control,” Taban said.

“Security bodies are looking for the suspect; “If he is arrested, he will face the law,” he said.

“We urge the victim’s family to remain calm and believe the government is doing its best to catch the culprit,” he added.

“We also arrested 8 people who were in possession of drugs such as marijuana, ice and tramadol,” he said.

Taban said that the municipality will continue its efforts to rid the district of drugs.

Efforts to reach the state police department for comment were not successful.