By Hou Akot Hou
Police in Gogrial West County in Warrap State have detained two police officers accused of participating in fuel looting.
The incident involved a tanker that overturned and later exploded last week.
Gogrial West police inspector Victor Awang Koor told the media that the officers are facing legal action for their involvement in the incident.
According to him, the officers were part of the first security unit deployed to the scene to help protect the area and prevent residents from accessing the spilled fuel.
However, they are alleged to have instead coordinated the looting of fuel from the accident site.
Awang said those detained were among the first team to arrive at the scene alongside the county commissioner, but were later implicated in organising the collection of fuel using jerrycans.
“Those detained are two officers from the PSU, Public Security Unit,” he said.
“They are all from the group of officers who arrived immediately as the fuel was spilling. They were seen by the local residents ordering jerrycans to fill the drums with fuel,” he added.
The police officer added that as residents became aware of the situation involving casualties from the overturned tanker, attention shifted to the looting activity, with containers reportedly filled with fuel from the scene.
The inspector further stated that the suspects will be charged accordingly for violating police protocols.
In a separate statement, Ajal Bol Bol, a police officer from Awan Rieu Payam, confirmed the incident, saying the officers acted out of desperation.
“The residents joined the forces of looters as the officers were found red-handed. This shows a lack of integrity, so they have to carry their own cross,” he stated.
The incident occurred last week when a fuel tanker transporting fuel to stations in Warrap towns overturned. The accident resulted in multiple casualties, including the driver and several passengers.
Reports indicate that initial attempts by the driver and others to start a generator to pump fuel from the damaged tanker led to a fire, which triggered a powerful explosion.