Anita Rachman, Jakarta – Following a deadly riot that resulted in a man's death, National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said that he had already sent officers from the Mobile Brigade or Brimob unit to secure Tarakan, East Kalimantan.

"At 3 a.m., we deployed officers from the Brimob Headquarters in Kelapa Dua [Depok] and have reported the latest development to the president," Bambang said at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The situation in Tarakan remains tense after a riot broke out between the local ethnic groups of Tidung and Bugis. All the police would say is that the riot, which resulted in the death of a 50-year-old man named Abdullah, revolved around an extortion attempt. A group of men also burned down the house of the man they identified as the alleged murderer.

Bambang said that the police was doing everything they could to stop the violence. "We have also gotten assistance from the military to secure the area and we have met with local figures and ethnic leaders from both sides to stop the violence," he said.

"We are evacuating people and taking preventive measures to stop violence from reoccurring. I ask everyone not to be provoked," he added.

S Widjanarko, a military spokesman, confirmed the evacuation. "People are taking shelter at military bases around Tarakan," Widjanarjko said.

"In evacuating the locals, the military is not taking sides. We are only trying to give people a sense of security and the local police has requested that we help in securing the area to prevent the conflict from getting bigger," he added.

South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo called out to Bugis ethnic in East Kalimantan, especially in Tarakan, to keep their feelings in check.

"I hope the tension in Tarakan will decrease and the conflict will not get bigger. I ask the Bugis people in Tarakan to control your emotions and not be provoked. Please be safe," Limpo said on Tuesday night.