Five more suspects arrested as authority continues to crackdown highway-robbery

Authorities in Eastern Equatoria state say they have arrested five more suspects in connection to highway armed robbery bringing the number of people arrested to 10.

Official says the five suspects were arrested on Tuesday this week and stolen items including laptops, smartphones, and several firearms recovered.

Aliandro Lotok is the governor’s press secretary in Eastern Equatoria state. He says the ten men were in custody. This is part of the gang that has been threatening movements of people along Torit-Kapoeta and Narus-Kapoeta Highway.

 

He also says the items they recovered were looted from travelers and humanitarian organizations such as Plan International.

“You know this notorious group has been arrested in a security operation in the areas they have been destabilizing and we are happy that the security forces have been able to do that by arresting them to ensure that our people travel along the highway freely without fear of unknown gunmen”, said Lotok

He told Singaita FM 88.3 FM that their investigation is ongoing, and the suspects will be arraigned in court to face justice.

One sad story is that a woman was traveling with her children from Kapoeta to Juba and when they were on the way, they were stopped by armed criminals, they raped this woman in the presence of her children. The woman was heartbroken and upon reaching juba, she committed suicide”, said Lotok.

 

He also admits to the alleged burning of houses at Katiko Payam in Kapoeta South. He said only five houses were set ablaze and they belong to the suspects. 

He added that the operation was vital because the government wants to ensure that people travel along the road peacefully without road attacks or robberies.

 

He urges the youths in the state to embrace peace and development, saying the government is working hard to ensure that all forms of criminality along the road are curbed.

 

The highway armed attack and robberies by criminals  that target public and NGOs vehicles has been a major cause of insecurity resulting to the loss of lives and personal belonging