By SIMON
ERORO
NORTHERN Province has seen an
upsurge in criminal activity in recent weeks after the departure of the Mobile
Squad deployed there for the 2012 Elections.
Crimes from petty theft to mugging and sexual harassment of females, break and enter have significantly increased in the last two weeks.
The township was rocked by armed hold-ups in the past two weeks with two shops - City Pharmacy and YC Supermarket - being struck on the same day.
Police nabbed three suspects and shot one dead. A few days later YC Supermarket was held up again on Sunday and another youth is now dead and at the hospital morgue after he was shot by police.
The escalation in crime and deteriorating law and order situation has prompted Governor Gary Juffa to write to the Police Minister and Police Commissioner requesting for the deployment of a Mobile Squad to the province to assist local police to crack down on the criminal elements.
Criminals terrorising people, especially women and children, are common in the province. Speaking to the Post-Courier yesterday, Governor Juffa said he intends to increase police presence in the province and tackle crimes such as arm robberies, illegal alcohol production, fraud and graft, and drug trafficking.
Mr Juffa said he intends to establish a Mobile Squad, expand the Criminal Intelligence Unit, Vice Squad and establish a highway patrol and also a coastline patrol.
He said there would be an effort to also identify the likely deep-rooted problems which are causing the increasing violence and crime.
“Oro will be a zero crime tolerance province. Those who do not give up their ways will not be ignored. Your days are numbered...the communities must take stock of their actions and make an effort to identify the persons involved and to discourage their young,” the Governor said.
“Many of the crimes are committed by unemployed youth. They are frustrated and restless due to the lack of opportunities and they feel that society does not care for them. There are no sports and cultural industries; there are no economic participation programs and these young people feel a sense of hopelessness and despair,” he said.
“With too much time on their hands, lack of opportunities, drugs and alcohol, no controls from parents and a breakdown in village values, they turn to crime. We cannot just address the crime growth by deploying police and enforcement but we must identify the root causes and address them,” he said. “The entire community must review their collective actions and search for answers - part of which is to create opportunities and engage the youth in province and nation building,” Governor Juffa said.
He said the police must not only investigate violent crimes but also white collar crimes which were worse because they deprived people of funds that are needed to provide health and other vital services.
Mr Juffa said misuse of funds meant to help the people many times resulted in people dying in remote and rural areas of Oro and he is committed to doing something about it.
Crimes from petty theft to mugging and sexual harassment of females, break and enter have significantly increased in the last two weeks.
The township was rocked by armed hold-ups in the past two weeks with two shops - City Pharmacy and YC Supermarket - being struck on the same day.
Police nabbed three suspects and shot one dead. A few days later YC Supermarket was held up again on Sunday and another youth is now dead and at the hospital morgue after he was shot by police.
The escalation in crime and deteriorating law and order situation has prompted Governor Gary Juffa to write to the Police Minister and Police Commissioner requesting for the deployment of a Mobile Squad to the province to assist local police to crack down on the criminal elements.
Criminals terrorising people, especially women and children, are common in the province. Speaking to the Post-Courier yesterday, Governor Juffa said he intends to increase police presence in the province and tackle crimes such as arm robberies, illegal alcohol production, fraud and graft, and drug trafficking.
Mr Juffa said he intends to establish a Mobile Squad, expand the Criminal Intelligence Unit, Vice Squad and establish a highway patrol and also a coastline patrol.
He said there would be an effort to also identify the likely deep-rooted problems which are causing the increasing violence and crime.
“Oro will be a zero crime tolerance province. Those who do not give up their ways will not be ignored. Your days are numbered...the communities must take stock of their actions and make an effort to identify the persons involved and to discourage their young,” the Governor said.
“Many of the crimes are committed by unemployed youth. They are frustrated and restless due to the lack of opportunities and they feel that society does not care for them. There are no sports and cultural industries; there are no economic participation programs and these young people feel a sense of hopelessness and despair,” he said.
“With too much time on their hands, lack of opportunities, drugs and alcohol, no controls from parents and a breakdown in village values, they turn to crime. We cannot just address the crime growth by deploying police and enforcement but we must identify the root causes and address them,” he said. “The entire community must review their collective actions and search for answers - part of which is to create opportunities and engage the youth in province and nation building,” Governor Juffa said.
He said the police must not only investigate violent crimes but also white collar crimes which were worse because they deprived people of funds that are needed to provide health and other vital services.
Mr Juffa said misuse of funds meant to help the people many times resulted in people dying in remote and rural areas of Oro and he is committed to doing something about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment