Upper Nile police arrest 19 youth over looting

June 2, 2010 (TURALEI) — Police authorities from the southern state of Upper Nile have confirmed arresting 19 youths in connection with loitering and looting at night.

This came following reports of increased banditry along the Nile river between Baliet and Ulang to Nasir County. The youth target boats with commercial goods sailing to and from Nasir to Malakal town, the capital of Upper Nile State.

There have also been reports from local residents suggesting an increase in the numbers of unarmed youth loitering and looting from people in Malakal town itself, mostly at night.

?Head of the investigation department, Colonel Isaac Chol from Malakal town, confirmed the arrest and told Sudan Tribune that the move follows complaints from members of the public about gangs that terrify, assault and steal valuables and cash from people in the streets at night.

Lots of people mostly traders have been coming to our department reporting being stopped and looted at nights by groups of unarmed youth. This continues to be reported until yesterday evening when two police officers dressed as civilians under my instructions discovered that there are gangs because they experienced it themselves.”

He added that the officers were “stopped behind the hostel of Upper Nile University and the stadium by some youth groups at eleven o’clock in the evening.”

He said most of suspects are between 16 and 30 years, and preliminary investigations show that most of the suspects were from different tribes and states including neighboring states of Jonglei and Unity.

According to Colonel Chol, some of them at the time of investigation said that they came to town looking for manual works at road construction companies rehabilitating section of Malakal road to tarmac level. They are desperate youths looking for jobs without having any academic requirements. ??

“Our observation shows that most of them have either been dismissed from jobs or failed to qualify for the work and found themselves unemployed” said Brigadier Chol, adding that police will work round the clock to ensure that the perpetrators of banditry were arrested.??

A number of notorious youth groups have resurfaced in Malakia residential areas, Hai Jallaba, terrorizing people at night by attacking, injuring and escaping with valuables and cash stolen from innocent civilians.??

The groups popularly known here as Aramin, thieves in English, are armed with machetes, swords, pieces of iron bars and clubs, they patrol the streets of Malakal town at night and attack unsuspecting civilians. ??

These youths, aged between 15 and 30 years, have allegedly organized themselves in groups of 20 to carry out their assaults.

According to police reports, several people, mostly Malakia residents, have reportedly been attacked and severely injured but no death has been reported this week. ??

Samuel Tut Deng, a business administration student at Upper Nile University also confirmed and seconded the arrest saying criminals should not be allowed to loiter around. The decision taken by police authorities is perfect and the right choice.

?”The notorious groups are roaming our streets at night armed with crude weapons. We are scared to the extent that we are afraid to freely walk in the evenings, residents are compelled to sleep as early as at 8:00pm,” stated Deng.

(ST)