South Sudan police arrest 33 robbery suspects amid partial lockdown over COVID-19

JUBA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan security forces had arrested 33 suspects for participating in armed robberies around Juba during partial lockdown in the past two weeks.

Daniel Justin Buolo, police spokesperson, said a joint security operation in Juba apprehended the suspects involved in various robbery incidents on local commercial bank Alpha, Sawa money transfer, and a company, since the start of the partial lockdown in mid-March.

"Among the suspects are four foreigners, three civilians and the rest are organized forces. They are going to be investigated and taken to court," Buolo told journalists in Juba.

He disclosed that the suspects robbed about 211,700 U.S. dollars from the affected businesses in the capital.

"The same group was involved in the Konyokonyo market looting. They were involved in many land cruiser car theft and some of them have been smuggling them out to Wau and in Abyei," disclosed Buolo.

South Sudan has since banned social gatherings, public transport, and commercial flights, and shut down businesses dealing in non-essential goods, as precautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Juba has so far reported two positive cases of COVID-19 involving two people working with the United Nations in the country. Enditem