Firearms collected from civilians in Unity State. (Photo: Office of the Governor).

Unity State government has reported peaceful Christmas and New Year celebrations with zero attacks after robust security measures that saw a joint force collect 121 illegally owned firearms including PKM machineguns in Bentiu and surrounding towns.

The 4th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Puljang oversaw the deployment of security forces from various security units of the South Sudan National Police Service, and South Sudan People’s Defence Force to maintain public order, according to the governor’s office.

Information Minister Eng. Gatwich Bephal said the festive season was relatively calm throughout the state and confirmed the confiscation of military grade weapons in civilians hands.

“We have managed to relatively maintain calmness; our forces scored massively on the confiscation of the firearms roaming and those ones stored by the locals in the town,” he said, according to a statement.

“We collected 121 firearms, including 2 PKMs, pistols and other tools such as machetes, spears, knives, and other harmful tools.”

On his part, Gen. Mathew Pul-Jang said the joint force successfully protected civilians and their properties – with the festive season registering zero murder case.

He said this was influenced by the coordinated, professional deployment of the joint forces from police, fire brigades, SSPDF, and relevant security departments.