Courtesy of A.B.C Media

Upper Nile Information Minister has said two battalions of the necessary unified forces have been deployed to the different counties in the state.

A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,000 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into a number of companies – usually each commanded by a major or a captain.

Minister Luk Saad Allah says the forces were drawn from Juba and Western Bahr el Ghazal.

According to him, the 750 soldiers who were taken from Juba recently were deployed to areas of Tonga, Wijpanyikaang and Pakwaar areas of Panyikaang County.

While those in Western Bahr el Ghazal were taken to Renk and Wadakona as well as to the South Sudan border area of Joda.

The state spokesperson said the deployment aims at maintaining peace and stability in hot spot areas.

Minister Saad Allah spoke to Eye Radio in an exclusive interview Tuesday evening from Malakal town.

“The honorable governor and the security committee went to Lelo and moved the necessary unified forces from the Lelo to Tonga. This is the battalion of the unified forces from Juba, they are 750 in number.

“The second battalion that came from Wau has been moved to Renk. Yesterday all of them were moved and they started deploying them in the different counties of the Northern Upper Nile, we thank God that the security situation in Upper Nile State is calm.”

Saad Allah has described the deployment ahead of the festive season as a good move.