W. Bahr el Ghazal beefs up security ahead of Christmas

November 21, 2014 (WAU) – Authorities in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state said tough security measures were in place to curb any criminal-related activities likely to occur during Christmas holidays.

Western Bahr Ghazal state’s traffic police officer, Luciano Gregory, speaks at Wau Vocational Training Centre on 20 August 2014 (ST)

This was revealed by state police commissioner Maj. Gen. Abraham Manyuat during a press conference held in the capital, Wau, Friday.

“The operation against criminals will involve community policing in helping the personnel to provide them with information on criminal’s activities and will continue until January next year,” said Manyuat.

He said security personnel deployed all over Wau will help quell insecurity mainly caused by unruly groups, popularly known as niggers.

“We have also made contingency plans to crackdown on those criminals responsible for breaking into shops and looting people at night it is now approaching towards Christmas time,” said Manyuat.

The police boss said all county commissioners were due to meet local chiefs in their respective areas to discuss community policing.

“Involving the local people in dealing with criminals cases would help the police to identify who and where these criminals are performing their activities,” he said.

“These local communities will help the police on where the deployment of the security personnel would be effective at the rural areas when inquiring on criminal’s activities,” he added.

The police commissioner said security personnel were ready to respond to any forms of insecurity in Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

The state has, in recent weeks, experienced rising cases of insecurity with the latest being an incident in which two girls were murdered and their bodies recovered near Wau town.

(ST)