By Hou Akot Hou
Northern Bahr El Ghazal State police have issued a seven-day ultimatum for owners of small arms, particularly pistols, to register their weapons and thereafter obtain licenses.
Madut Ngong Aleu, the spokesperson of the police in the state on Tuesday said the directives were reached in an extraordinary cabinet meeting organized by Governor Charles Madut Akol, who ordered the registration of all small arms such as pistols.
Ngong said the directive is intended to curb the surge in crime across the state.
“The Governor and the entire cabinet, including the enforcement agencies, have issued a directive to all small arms owners to register their weapons and subsequently be given licenses,” he stated.
“This is meant to identify those holding arms, and anyone found with unregistered small arms will be held liable,” he cautioned.
He emphasized that the timeframe is effective from the date of the announcement, giving owners one week to comply.
Failure to adhere to the directive could result in confiscation of the arms, as some individuals misuse weapons by drinking and threatening to shoot people in public places such as bars, or by looting at gunpoint at night.
On a different note, Aleu also said police officers have been directed to avoid using social media negatively, as some have been spreading misinformation about recent promotions within the police service.
“We have seen that some police officers have been peddling misinformation about the recent promotion.
Some go online insinuating falsehoods, while others complain about promotions, saying some received stars while others were left out. Such information should not be shared in the public domain,” he warned.
Ngong urged police officers to remain self-disciplined, law-abiding, and avoid acting shamefully, stressing that trained officers must follow the principles and rule of law governing police services.
He acknowledged that some officers have gone off limits, frustrated by delays in salary payments and promotions recently effected by the Ministry of Interior.