The governor of South Sudan’s Yei River State said the security situation in the state has drastically improved after the deployment of joint forces and efforts by religious groups preaching peace and reconciliation.

Since the beginning of the month, there have been increased cases of organized armed robbery, looting and torture among the civilian population.

Governor David Lokonga also said during a meeting with his cabinet on Friday that his government is in talks with members of armed opposition groups in the state to ensure implementation of the signed ceasefire agreement and the need for peaceful round table talks to end the ongoing insecurity the state.

Lokonga said the security organs in Yei town are working to crackdown on criminals.

“Some of these robbers who break into people’s houses and shops have been shot dead while others arrested and are in police prison facing charges,” he said.

Lokonga called on the public to cooperate with the security agencies to improve the security situation, saying his government’s main agenda is security so that the people who fled to refugee camps can come back to their homes.