Lakes State Deputy Governor has promised that the planned disarmament of civilians with unauthorized guns will be peaceful.
Lakes State is planning to carry out a comprehensive disarmament in a bid to restrict firearms only to the authorized persons within the organized forces while on duty.Daniel Ayuol Makoi told Good News Radio that the disarmament of civilians aims at enhancing security in the State to promote development.
He urged the public to cooperate with the disarming officers.
He warned that any civilian found with a gun after the disarmament exercise will be treated as criminal.
Mr. Ayuol revealed that the disarmament exercise will involve the traditional authorities, members of parliament and representatives from the State together with the military.
He explained that the traditional chiefs will persuade those holding firearms to hand them over.
Disarming officers will collect the firearms from the local and traditional authorities.
Mr. Ayuol said weapons collected during previous disarmament exercises were sneaked back to the hands of civilians.
The collected fire arms this time will be taken to the military headquarters in Juba.
Lakes State citizens have negative memories of previous disarmament exercises where military officers used torture to disarm civilians.