The Cueibet County commissioner announced the arrests of 15 people for murder, cattle rustling, and arms dealing in Lakes
Mayom Malek told Radio Tamazuj they arrested 5 people from Cueibet and 2 people from Rumbek Centre suspected to be involved in stealing cows. Malek said the suspects had stolen cows from Cueibet and exchanged them in Rumbek Centre.
In addition, the commissioner said they arrested three people suspected of being connected with highway murders in Ceuibet County.
Five people were also arrested for allegedly selling weapons between Cueibet and Rumbek Centre—three from Cueibet, and two from Rubmek Centre, Malek said.
He added that investigations are ongoing in the arms dealing cases as authorities continue peaceful disarmament in the county.
Malek was unable to tell how many guns had been collected when asked.
“I cannot tell you the exact number for the guns that we have collected, we received some but other payam are yet to send us reports of gun collected,” he said.
He revealed the disarmament is being carry out by the mobilized Galweng youth militia alongside payam chiefs and the state police.
Malek said the Galweng have been reorganized and named administration police, but the National Interior Minister, who is in the state, has yet to define their role.
When asked about the number of arrests made since the arrival of the minister to quell lawlessness and revenge attacks, Lakes acting information minister Dhieu Wal was unable to provide clear numbers to Radio Tamazuj. Wal said he does not know the exact number but said he believes some suspected criminals were arrested.