By Correspondent

Eight members of a local gang known as the “45 gang” voluntarily surrendered to local authorities in Luparate Sub-Boma, authorities said on Friday.

Speaking to the media Warrant Officer Martin Mawa Joseph from the Luparate Sub-Boma police station said the eight individuals presented themselves voluntarily to authorities.

“They have come out to say they are no longer involved in gang activities and want the government to recognize their decision,” Mawa told Radio Tamzauj.

According to the report, the surrender was facilitated through youth leaders in Luparate Sub-Boma, just days after the group members reportedly decided to abandon gang-related activities.

The warrant Office stated that authorities will protect those who voluntarily leave gangs and work with community leaders to encourage further defections.

Meanwhile, local sub-chief John Bakata Sindani welcomed the development, urging authorities and development partners to support the youths with vocational training and agricultural programmes to reduce the risk of returning to gangs.

For his part, one of the reformed gang members, Dominic Mathew, urged other youths still involved in gangs to abandon violence, saying it offered no future.

He regretted gang activities, affirming that they have decided to leave it and to inspire others to do the same since such activities ‘have no benefit.’

Youth leader of Luparate Sub-Boma, Gabriel Lokule, called on young people to embrace reform and focus on peaceful community life, warning against involvement in nighttime movements and criminal activity.

Gang violence has been a perennial challenge in Yei River County, with authorities launching major crackdowns to tame the vice.

In November last year, authorities in the County detained 21 suspected youth gang members accused of terrorising residents.

Then County Commissioner, Emmanuel Taban Seme said the suspects, aged between 10 and 17, had been involved in clashes with rival groups and in harassing and extorting members of the public. He said the youths will be taken to court for trial.

“Some youth from Juba and others from Uganda came here and began recruiting boys on the ground, introducing bad ideas and behaviours to the point they became a threat. You will see a group of youth in one area fighting another group in a different area. We arrested the most aggressive and took them to prison. This last group was 21, and they will be tried in the coming days,” Commissioner Seme said, warning youths against engaging in criminal activity.