Gumuruk County in Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) has received a new police station to help foster security amidst rampant violence there, authorities said.
The facility constructed under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)’ Quick Impact Project to the tune of $50,000 was handed over to GPAA officials during a ceremony in Gumuruk last Thursday.
The GPAA police commissioner, Major-General Khamis Mazika Marajan, told Radio Tamazuj that the new facility will help them restore law and order in the troubled border area of Gumuruk.
“In the border area (to Jonglei State), it will help minimize crimes by the people, keep law and order within the community and help build the confidence of the citizen in the area because the police will be carrying out duties in the area,” Gen. Mazika said.
He called on residents to cooperate to help police effectively discharge duties, saying about 300 officers stationed there are sufficient to combat crimes.
Meanwhile, Simon Peter Jany, the GPAA local government minister, welcomed the handover.
“Now the police post handed over to us by UNMISS is operational. It comprises two offices and three cells for paediatrics, females and males,” he said. “As you know, fighting among youth groups is common in GPAA and Gumuruk borders Jonglei State, so this handover is a good development because it will help police combat crimes.”
For his part, Ter Manyang, the executive director of the civil society group Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), also lauded the handover saying with the existence of such a facility, residents will not seek redress through violence because trust in the police is now built.