The Gambella town police chief and other people have been killed in attacks in the Gambella region in the past few days, senior regional officials said.

Residents said unrest has been caused by a series of attacks in the capital Gambella and various parts of the region in recent weeks.

Both regional authorities and residents have reported that security personnel and civilians have been killed in attacks by unidentified gunmen, as well as the disruption of residents' daily activities.

The regional president Ms. Alemitu Umod, and her deputy, Dr. Gatluak Ron, have confirmed that the police chief of the regional capital has died in an attack.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, the Gambella Regional State Administration explained the situation by saying that unnamed forces that "would wake the people of the region from their slumber and delight in conflict and human death" had recently created chaos in Gambella town and other districts.

It also stated that these forces had carried out various attacks, including "killing people, attacking vehicles and causing loss of life, and targeting security forces and leadership."

The statement did not mention the killing of the city's police chief, but referred to the killings of police officers and the commander as security forces and leadership.