WES recovers looted properties in Yambio after conflict
December 16, 2015 (YAMBIO) – The Government of Western Equatoria state said it has recovered at least 12 motor cycles with support from security organs. The motorbikes belonging to the civilians were looted mainly by the South Sudanese army (SPLA) during the conflict which erupted in Yambio last week.
Minister of local government and law enforcement, Elia Costa, said 15 suspects who looted the town have been apprehended, but he could not mention their identities whether they were soldiers or civilians.
He said they will appear before the court of law in days as the government continued to search houses and SPLA military barracks for more looted items.
“We are urging everybody; anyone who lost his or her properties should come to police station to identify the properties. If it is motor bikes, we recovered twelve motorbikes from the looters,” he told Sudan Tribune in Yambio.
Costa asserted that, an order was issued by the government to arrest any valuable items which has no proper document at any checkpoint around Yambio as searches continued by the police and security forces.
He commended the move the security forces have taken to recover and return the properties looted to the owners.
“We are happy with what happened and we have belief that all lost properties will be given back to the owners and bring to justice the culprits,” Costa added.
Yambio county authorities and mayor Badagbu continues to urge people over the local FM radio to refrain from stealing and looting people’s properties.
He also appreciated the efforts from the SPLA division 6 commander to recover the motor cycles from some individuals of SPLA soldiers, assuring to continue to search for more items.
(ST)