South Sudan National Police Services (SSNPS) has rubbished claims that the government has forcefully taken the arrested gangs to fight with the White Army in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
Through the Spokesperson, Maj. Gen. James Monday Enoka denied that members of 600 youths were ferried into a tight for the government.
Till now the South Sudan People Defense forces continue to battle with the rebel white army in Nasir, making it a war zone.
Last week police arrested over 600 suspected gang members in Juba and kept them in detention centers.
However, some of the members claimed that some of the gangs have been taken to Nasir to fight alongside the government forces.
This allegation worsened when a photo of gangs lining up near a plane at the airport surfaced online in what is assumed to be Juba International Airport.
Some parents also alleged that some of their children were not in detention centers, hence creating fear among the public.
Speaking to the media, James Monday Enoka, a police spokesperson, denied the incident, adding that all those gangs arrested were detained in Juba.
“People are lying that some gangs were taken to Nasir to fight; we cannot do that.
All the gangs arrested are in Juba and under detention; some who are free from crime have been released,” Enoka said.
He added that the police have continued to investigate all those who are arrested to ensure that the real criminals are treated with the law.
“We cannot take our own children to the front line; the police and army have never done that. We have our trained soldiers.
So, the issue of gangs—they are being investigated, and the criminal will be subjected to law, and others with no crimes can be released for free,” he said.
Enoka urged the parents to never listen to the propaganda online but rather come to the police station and look for them.
“Do not sit down in your home and start to think your child has been taken to Nasir; just come to the police and you will get them. All those that were arrested are all around,” he said.
He expressed that the crackdowns on criminals will continue until peace and stability are restored in the city and South Sudan at large.
The spokesperson appreciated the police official in operation and urged them to continue the arrest of gangs.
“We are not arresting any child; we are arresting only those we got carrying sharp objects and weapons to carry out crimes. These are our targets, so the public should not panic,” he said.
He urged the public and the parents to ensure all children are monitored to ensure that they do not join wrong groups.
