NBG: Police probe six suspects accused of stealing bales of mosquito nets

Hou Akot Hou

Police in Northern Bahr El Gazal State are probing six suspects accused of stealing bales of mosquito nets donated by UNICEF through Malaria consortium organization.

Dut Garang Deng, a police officer said they are holding the suspects for stealing the mosquito nets on Saturday.

He told Juba Echo on Monday that the suspects were arrested after being identified by staff of the ministry of health.

 “We are holding 3 in Aweil town and the other three are being interrogated in Aweil South County. Our role is to implement the rule of law; these mosquito nets were meant for combating malaria. They are taking advantage of the absence of ministry of staff or those who were doing distribution,” Deng said.

Anok Dut, the state coordinator for malaria project in the ministry of health acknowledged the loss of mosquito nets in Aweil town and Aweil South County.

“They are going to bear the brunt of stealing the donated items. Malaria kills and our people are not mindful of this problem. During rainy season mosquitoes bite a lot our people which cause malaria. If UNICEF and malaria consortium stopped to give free mosquito nets our people would suffer,” Dut said.

The free distribution of mosquito nets was rolled out in the fortnight ago and many reports emerged of people being spotted selling some of the mosquito nets in the market.