The newly assigned Civil Defense Forces Director for Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Colonel Martin Mawein has accused the outgoing director, Lt. Colonel Majok Ater of rejecting directives from the National Civil Defense Forces to hand over office since March 23, 2021. 

“I was transferred from Warrap to Aweil and the acting director for Civil Defense Forces in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State refused to hand over the office to me from 23 March up to now. He was saying that there were directives from Juba that maintained him in the office,’’ said Mawein.

On Friday last week, Civil Defense Forces fired live bullets in the air with the police guards who were directed to arrest the former Civil Defense director Lt. Colonel Majok Ater for obstructing the handover process. 

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Lt. Colonel Ater said, "We were not aware that there was a problem, but we were surprised when the police force came at around 1:00 pm and they entered our headquarters without permission. They were commanded by Major Madut Ngong Aleu who asked me to go to police headquarters and I asked him to provide me with a written document and he failed to do so. From there he ordered his accompanying forces to detain by force, but thank God I defended myself and my bodyguards fired live bullets at our headquarters here.” 

According to Ater, the newly assigned director Colonel Mawein had withdrawn ammunition and some military equipment without proper handing over. 

“After the Colonel Mawein was brought as my successor, he came with an official document and I didn’t say anything wrong to him. I just took three-day permission from him so that I will mobilize our forces in the counties for the handing over process. And before three days were completed, he closed all the offices and broke weapon stores and took ammunition including some military equipment,’’ he added.

Ater said he reported the case to the local government and law enforcement agencies in the state and was authorized by their high command in Juba to stay in the office. 

For his part, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State police spokesman, Capt. Guot Guot Akol confirmed that Majok Ater refused to hand over his office.

“Lt. Colonel Majok Ater refused to hand the office to him and the state security committee formed a committee from the police, prison service, and wildlife to facilitate the official handing over. The committee headed by a police Major Madut arrived but Majok refused to hand over the office and ordered his bodyguards to shoot live bullets on air,’’ said Guot.

He denied there was an order of arrest from the state police commissioner, adding that the case has been referred to governor Tong Akeen Ngor, and the National Civil Defense Forces.