By Philip Buda Ladu
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Lt. Gen. Atem Marol Biar, has directed a joint security force deployed along the lifeline Juba-Nimule highway to crackdown and apprehend armed bandits who attacked and burnt a commercial bus last Tuesday.
Police chief Gen. Marol gave the orders while addressing the forces during a visit to the site over the weekend.
The IGP was accompanied on the mission by the Assistant Chief of Defense Forces for Operations, Lt. Gen. Thoi Chany, including senior army, police, and national security officers.
The high-level security delegation assessed the general security situation along the Juba Nimule Highway following the tragic road ambush on a Babeto passenger bus that left one dead and nine others injured.
Speaking to State-run SSBC, Gen. Marol, condemned the barbaric act, reminding the security forces of their mandate of providing protection to guarantee travelers’ safety on the road, stating, “You must take care of this road.”
“We are here on a mission about the issue of criminals who are on this road; that’s why we came, so you have to apprehend them because these are criminals, the same like those in Juba,” he echoed.
The police chief emphasized that there are always measures that need to be taken against any criminal, especially who are armed. “We arrest them” like those in Juba and put them in a good prison that they will not get out of.
“A person who holds a gun is a criminal. Now these people who are said to be rebels in the area—which country are they fighting to liberate yet the country has been liberated already? What do they want? That’s just chaos,” Gen. Marol blasted.
Meanwhile, there are logistical challenges facing the forces deployed along the highways, which the police chief acknowledged, saying they will be acted upon in order to improve work efficacy.
“We have heard your problem, but it will be solved.” Marol promised the soldiers adding that. “Our visit to you with the commanders is to make sure that you people apprehend those criminals and put them in a prison they won’t escape.”
For his part, Lt. Gen. Thoi Chany urged the forces to abide by their professional mandate of protecting civilians and their properties.
“We want to see you doing your great job on the road because the traffic flow and vehicles plying the highway day and night is all your responsibility,” he added. “We would like to commend you for the work you have been doing on the road.”
Gen. Chany stressed the sole responsibility of the organized forces which is the “protection” of civilians and their properties.
“We are responsible for this highway. Let no other incident happen on this road like the attack on the bus early last week,” he told the soldiers.