KAMPALA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- At least nine South Sudanese refugees have been arrested for leading riots and damaging humanitarian agencies equipment over alleged delay of food ration supply in the northwestern district of Arua, police said in a statement on Friday.

Josephine Angucia, West Nile regional police spokesperson, said the suspects on Wednesday mobilized fellow refugees to riot, damage and steal humanitarian agencies data equipment at Omugo Refugee Settlement over alleged failure to provide relief food items for the last one month.

She said the refugees broke into the stores of United Nations World Food Program stores, stealing food items, wheel barrows, hoes, slashers, three computers, tarpaulin and spray cans.

"When police swung into action, the riots were stopped. Nine suspects were arrested and detained at Yoro base camp police station pending transfer to Arua CPS (Central Police Station)," said Angucia.

At least 11 wheelbarrows, 11 hoes, 9 slashes, some electric items and computer accessories have been recovered, according to the police.

"Refugees are advised to use proper channels of sharing their grievances through their leaders to the concerned authorities instead of taking the law into their hands," said Angucia.

"When some continue to misbehave and not abide by our laws and procedures, they will be arrested and prosecuted according to Ugandan laws," she said.

In October, 2017, South Sudan refugees at Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement in the neighboring district of Adjumani, which hosts over 20,000 people, protested over delayed food supply.

Last year, WFP announced a food aid cut by 50 percent to hundreds of thousands of refugees in the East African country due to financial constraints.?