locked in

lock in
南スーダンのムルレ族がエチオピアを襲撃し、200人以上が死亡し子供100人あまりが連れ去られました。

Ethiopia: Hundreds killed, children kidnapped in raids from South Sudan

(CNN)Ethiopia's government says more than 200 people have been killed and 100 children have been kidnapped in cross-border raids from South Sudan in March and April.

The most significant attack took place Friday when, according to the government, 182 civilians were killed in 13 kebeles, or neighborhoods. In addition, 2,000 cattle have been stolen, according to the government's communications department.

A government statement blames armed militants of South Sudan's Murle tribe for having "infiltrated" across the border between the two countries. Those targeted in the raids were from the Nuer ethnic group, which straddles the border.

It is believed the children were kidnapped to act as workers. Cross-border raids are fairly common in this region, where people battle for livestock, land and resources such as water and grazing rights.
（中略）
South Sudan is the world's newest nation, having gained independence from Sudan in 2011 following decades of civil war. But it has little infrastructure and significant poverty.

South Sudan's two major ethnic groups, the Dinka and the Nuer, have been locked in a civil war since 2013.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/19/africa/ethiopia-border-raids/index.html

今回取り上げる表現はlock inです。
lockから、「閉じ込める＝状態にある」と推測しましたが「閉じ込める」以外の定義をみつけました。

LDOCEには” be locked in battle/combat/dispute “などの形で”to be involved in a long, serious argument or fight with someone”とありました。

『ジーニアス英和辞典』（第五版、大修館書店）で確認をすると、「（be ~ed in/into O）（困難・論争など）に巻き込まれている」と記載されております。

今回、襲撃を受けたエチオピアのヌエル族は同国のディンカ族とも内戦が続いています。(flyingbird)