The South Sudan National Police Service spokesperson in Western Bahr el Ghazal State on Monday confirmed that the 103 young men involved in gang activity in the state have been forcefully transported to Juba for rehabilitation.
Since last month, Western Bahr el Ghazal State authorities have been cracking down on gangs involved in criminal activities within Wau Town.
The crackdown led to the arrest of several male individuals found with plaited hair and wearing baggy clothes. According to the police, the suspected gang members were accused of terrorizing the community, theft, fighting and raping young girls, among others.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, the police spokesperson in the state, Major Santino Oduol, stated that there has been a decrease in gang activities following these crackdowns.
“There was an increase in crime in the state, especially the appearance of niggers (gangs) in the past but to the result of operational duties by our joint security police, we managed to arrest several youth and they were transported to Juba under the control of South Sudan National Police Service,” he revealed. “They are currently being held by the police and will be taken for rehabilitation at the reformatory center, after which they will be returned home to contribute to positive development in the country and community at large.”
According to Maj. Oduor, the police will continue their day and night operations to check gang activity.
“We are patrolling day and night and will continue arresting any negative groups, and we will deal with them as we did with the 103 people who were taken to Juba last Wednesday,” he stated.
The Police spokesperson urged parents to take good care of their children and educate them about the dangers of gang involvement.
“I am urging the families, relatives, and all the community in Wau Town to take good care of children. We will not allow any outlaws to create insecurity and instability within our community,” Oduor warned, “If your child enters any group and we find them, we will deal with them as an outlaw because they are threatening the security of civilians.”
“I want to assure the parents of these children are in good condition and are under the control of the national police for training, and they will be productive people who the country will benefit from,” he added.
Radio Tamazuj was not able to identify and get comments from the families of the affected youths.