The police in Alualuak Payam of Yirol West County of Lakes State said that they apprehended three notorious armed criminals over the weekend and transferred them to the state capital, Rumbek.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, the chief inspector of police in Alualuak Payam, Michael Mayor Malaak, said the three notorious criminals, renowned for cattle rustling, road ambushes, deadly attacks among other heinous crimes were identified as Makuoi Manyiel Ruom, Mabil Makuei Khak, and Makat Makuei Nhial.

"The criminal was captured while he was organizing a marriage and there was a misunderstanding and this led to him being beaten by the relatives of the girl whom he wanted to marry. So I was called as police chief inspector in Alualuak Payam and I managed to apprehend him,” Inspector Malaak narrated. “So when I apprehended him, some criminals came and attacked the police station trying to take him by force. Immediately I called for reinforcement from Rumbek East and Yirol West and when the reinforcement reached here, two other criminals were captured from the attackers and they are now transferred to Lakes State capital, Rumbek for investigation.”

The area police chief said despite the arrest of the three most wanted criminals, there are still more criminals at large in Alualuak Payam. He urged them to stop criminal activities and surrender to the government so that they are trained as community police.

The Executive Director in Alualuak Payam, Daniel Ichok Dhieu, confirmed that the suspect was found beaten up by the relatives of the girl with whom he tried to elope after he lost a marriage competition over the girl to another man.

He said the charges against those arrested include violating community peace dialogue agreements with neighboring communities by carrying out cattle rustling, road ambushes, and deadly attacks in Lakes State.