Two Maan outlaws to surrender soon — Tarawneh

AMMAN — Only a few outlaws are behind what is happening in Maan, most of them are under 26 years old and they include some juveniles, Interior Minister Hussein Majali said Sunday.

Meanwhile, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh said one outlaw is expected to turn himself in on Monday or the day after, while another will surrender next week, bringing the number of detained outlaws to 10 out of the 19 being pursued by security forces, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Commending Maan residents' cooperation with the Lower House committee seeking to resolve the situation in the southern governorate, Tarawneh said the issue is not about the city, but involves a few individuals, adding that the crisis will be resolved soon.

At a meeting with the Senate Administrative Affairs Committee and other senators, Majali said the problem of Maan was "badly exploited" by some irresponsible media outlets and others who have harmed the people of Maan and Jordanian authorities.

Security forces are leading a campaign in Maan to detain some 19 outlaws wanted on criminal charges.

Earlier this month, Second Lieutenant Nart Nafesh, 23, was part of a patrol that was guarding a post in Maan, when a group of suspects opened fire with automatic weapons at 4:45am, killing the officer.

In an operation to arrest an outlaw earlier this year, a man died and his wife later succumbed to her injuries. 

Four Gendarmerie officers were injured in the incident and others have been target of sporadic shootings and attacks.

Majali said there are no organised parties or Islamist groupings in Maan or any other entities stoking tension in the governorate, some 220km south of Maan, Petra reported. 

The minister stressed that there are no members of the jihadist Islamic State group in the governorate, adding that Jordan is capable of confronting any party that targets its security through the cooperation of Jordanians and its security capabilities. 

The situation in neighbouring countries has affected Jordan’s economy and increased the burdens that security entities must deal with, in terms of combating trafficking and infiltration attempts, Majali told the senators. 

He noted that the government is serious about eradicating the roots of corruption and combating crime, such as car theft and other robberies targeting public and private property.