Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul says the government will deploy security personnel to all border towns across the country, especially the northern part, to prevent the smuggling of grains to neighbouring countries.

It forms part of the government’s ban on the export of grains to avert possible food shortages in the country following months of drought.

Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwel says the move aims to protect the citizenry.

“We will act well. We are deploying security personnel] across the borders, particularly in the northern part. We are also [deploying] to the east and the south. And so we will ask citizens to support the security agencies.

“If, for some reason, there is some unapproved route or approved route or somebody sees something that is going on that is not nice, please let us know so that we can act appropriately. It is for the good of all of us that we should not make our citizens suffer.”