The Governor of Tonj State, Akech Tong Aleu, on Friday apologized to the United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP) over what he termed as unfortunate looting of food aid in two separate locations in the state.

Last month the WFP’s store was brought down at Ngap-Agok County and about 700 bags of assorted food items were stolen by residents.

“I am apologizing officially for what has happened and we are assuring that we have taken appropriate legal measures,” he said.

“We have arrested people. 33 people are now in Tonj Central Prison and we have brought judge at the national level with powers of high court in order to try them and punish them according to the law,” he added.

Akech said his government strongly condemns these acts and will make sure such incidents do not recur in the state.

In an earlier incident, a WFP truck carrying food for malnourished children en-route to Aliik in Kongoor County got stuck in mud and was looted as it headed back to Warrap town.