By Hou Akot Hou
Four-day training on small arms prevention and control has kicked off in Aweil, Northern Bahr El Ghazal state on Monday.
The training workshop has been organized by the ministry of Interior Ministry with support from partners.
Kuol Gabriel Nyok, a facilitator who jetted in from Juba together with the Interior Minister said the workshop has brought together 75 trainees across Aweil.
Most of the participants are drawn from law enforcement agencies, mainly police, security service personnel, traffic, fire fighters, CIDs personnel among others.
Nyok said that their aim is to deter rampant spread of small arms such as pistols in the hands of civilians which is proliferating the communal violence, robbery among others.
“We have targeted 75 participants. 40 males and 35 females. The aim is that we want to dispel the notion of gun ownership by unauthorized people in the communities” he said. This is contributing to violence and robberies” Nyok said.
He stressed that the officers being trained will work as trainers of trainees (TOT) throughout the state.
“This is meant to curtail the rise of crimes. As people walk at night and threaten people using small arms and it is too prevalent factor across the state” he maintained.
One of the participants, Adut Bulo from the police department, said the training is too interesting and they embraced.
“Our young men are causing a lot of chaotic phenomena in the society. As women we are eyes of the community” Adut noted.
“You can start with your husband and son, if you see him bearing a gun that he possesses illegally kind warn him against owning as it kills and causes problems” she advised.
The facilitator, Mr. Kuol further revealed that research conducted recently showed that 1,600 civilians onwards do possess firearms illegally.
He told the participants to convey the messages on the need to surrender illegal firearms to the concerned authorities.