Crime grips Popondetta

By Simon Eroro

Crime, murder and home brew consumption rate
in Northern Province is fast spiralling out of control.
As of yesterday, another secondary school student was murdered and his body is in the morgue after he was stabbed in the chest.
This death followed after the stabbing of another student inside the school premises at the Popondetta Secondary School and three other deaths recorded last week bringing the total number of deaths to five.
The acting provincial police commander Noboya Zozowa while confirming this said the current police resources in the province was inadequate to contain the situation.
The Popondetta General Hospital Chief Executive officer Dr Gawin Gunzee also raised concerns on the number of unnecessary deaths occurring in the province over the past two weeks.
Dr Gunzee said parents have totally failed to raise their children in a Godly way to respect human lives – there is total absence of respect.
Governor Gary Juffa said stabbings, killings and armed hold ups and the trade and consumption of marijuana and or homebrew is a major factor in escalating crime.
“The cultivation and trade in marijuana and the distilling and sale of illegal alcohol is growing in the community with the full knowledge of some community leaders, mothers and ordinary villagers,” he said.
“There are 65 policemen in the province which has 181, 000 people.
“The staff ceiling is 360 personal which is a ratio of 1-502 which is still far lower than the United Nations recommendations which is 1 -200.”