Police officers apprehended six suspected robbers in Munuki residential area near Souk Militia on Tuesday, according a local source who is a neighbor to one of the police officers.
Armed robbers broke into the house of a police officer at 2:00 a.m. and were trying to steal a solar panel from the house. One of the thieves was reportedly on the roof untying the solar panel when the house owner shot him in his leg.
The injured armed robber managed to hide in one of the empty tukuls near the house before his arrest in the morning. After he was questioned, the robber reportedly gave up five other suspected robbers who were hiding in the area.
Two guns were recovered from the gang who told the police that the guns were hired to them by one South Sudanese national at 2000 SSP per AK-47. Police then organized a trap for the gun owner, arranging for the arrested criminals to lure him to come collect his money from the gang.
“Please come for your payment. We have accomplished our mission successfully. The 4000 SSP is ready,” one of the thieves told his coworker on the phone. Shortly the man came, not knowing that it was a trap.
Police arrested the man after reaching the place but he denied knowledge of the robbery, according to the source. A case has been opened against them at Munuki Police Station.
Residents of Juba have raised concerns over growing crime in the country, complaining that some officials within the armed forces are hiring guns to criminals.
“How can we be safe if the organized forces are the same ones hiring guns to criminals?” one resident in Juba said.