More than 350 police officers have graduated from the National Police College in Juba.

They were trained in policing and law. The graduates are listed in the rank of second lieutenant.

President Salva Kiir addressed them during the graduation ceremony at Juba Stadium last night.

He urged them to enforce law and protect citizens.

“I want to tell you to show a good face of the police, because police right now have damaged our name in South Sudan, because when you see police in street stopping citizens and foreigners and taking money from them, that is not the police, this is a robber,” said President Kiir.

“I want you to implement the law like when you take oath today; your obligation is more in this country and it is to protect the constitution, protect the country and citizens”.

In the same ceremony, the Minister of Interior said the new officers will be deployed in different states of South Sudan.

Aleu Ayeny Aleu said some parents used to come to his office requesting him to transfer officers to work in the custom’s department.

But he says they will be deployed based on the needs of the ministry.

“from here this is the beginning of the police, your parents and your relatives and big people came to my office…saying my son will graduate tomorrow; I want you to take him to customs  and others said my son will graduate I want to take him to other place,” he said.

“But that is not our mission; your mission is since you graduate form here, your place is in Pochalla, Bor and Raja or any other place.”

Those who graduated yesterday are the third police batch since South Sudan became independent three years ago.

-WRITER: OBAJ