Curfew Meant To Combat Criminal Gangs in Amuru.

By Amy

The nationwide curfew imposed by the president to contain the spread of COVID-19 runs from 9 pm to 6 am. The curfew has generally reduced the level of criminal activity in many areas though in some, criminals have devised other ways to keep vandalizing through their practices.

Amuru has been battling criminal elements that waylay and rape their female victims, rob their valuables and threaten peace and stability in Pabbo Town Council; Amuru; Guruguru and Lamogi Sub-Counties since December last year.

Therefore, strict enforcement of the night time curfew in Amuru district started to get rid of criminal gangs from major trading centers. For a week now, police officers backed by the military start enforcing the curfew as early as 7:00 pm and stop at 06:00 am. All shops are expected to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Police have since arrested eight suspects belonging to Mapari Meni and Abut Squads, both criminal gangs that operate in Olwal Guruguru trading centers. The suspects appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court last week on among other charges theft, defilement, robbery, rape, arson, and murder.

Geoffrey Oceng Osborn, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner, and District Security Committee Chairperson, says security has been conducting operations in the affected areas to combat the criminal gangs.

They also resolved together with local leaders to register all residents to aid them identify and eliminate the offenders. They also rallied residents to report and record offenses committed by the criminal gangs.

Finally, people are also advised to follow the directives of the curfew set at 9pm or 7pm as it is in some areas with high criminal activity, for their own safety and to reduce on such practices.