A cattleman herds his animals | File photo

Community policing units have been set up in 53 payams, Lakes, in an effort to curb insecurity in the area.

Each of the state’s eight counties will select fifty youths who will participate in the community policing, Governor Matur Chut told the state-run SSTV.

The units will help maintain security in the state, and carry out a peaceful disarmament exercise.

“They will be helping the communities in disarmament exercise because in all the payams we have specified members who will form the community policing,” said Mr Chut.

Authorities in Lakes State say they have changed the name of the armed youth who protect cattle camps known as Gelweng to community policing.

Over the last two months, more than 600 people were killed in the state as a result of presence of weapons in the hands of civilians.

Most deaths were as a result of revenge killing, cattle raids and inter-clan feuds.