POLICE URGES COMMUNITIES OF WEST NILE REGION TO DESIST FROM MOB ACTION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CROSS BORDER CRIMES.
These remarks were made by police during three days community sensitization program that started on Wednesday 15th November 2023 and ended on Friday 17th November 2023, covering some selected communities of West Nile Region.
The communities were tactfully Selected depending on the prevalence of crimes in them. The program started in Lobule Subcounty on Wednesday 15th November 2023, on Thursday 16th it was in Odramacaku Trading Center in Ayivu West Division in Arua City, on Friday 17th it was at Vurra Customs in Arua District.
Present for the community policing sessions were Regional Police Spokesperson West Nile SSP Angucia Josephine, Regional head of Child and Family Protection Unit West Nile SSP Angomoko Emily, Regional Community Liason Officer West Nile SP Asea Collins, Representative of Regional Head of Investigations West Nile IP Masereka Solomon, IP Matua Alfred CLO Arua Central Business Division, area DPCs, OC CID, OC Traffic, in charge crime intelligence and Community Liason Officers of Koboko, Ayivu West Division, Arua City and Arua District. Questions and concerns of the Communities were appropriately answered by the concerned officers, as others were taken up for further management.
In Lobule Subcounty, Koboko district, the participants comprised of Refugees and Host Communities. Common crimes were Mob justice including group/ inter-tribal/inter-clan/ fights, general crimes like thefts, alcohol and drug abuse, sex related offences like defilement, child related cases like child neglect, domestic violence, threatening/inciting violence. Police sensitized them on how to manage and prevent those specific crimes, dangers of mob justice and its prevention, aspects of law and lawful procedures like case reporting, followups, investigations, prosecution, difference between police bond.and court bail.
In Odramacaku Trading Center, Ayivu West Division, Arua City bordering DR. Congo, Common cases registered were cross border crimes like theft of cattle, motorcycles, robberies, smuggling, gun trafficking, sex related offences like defilement, domestic violence, land wrangles, mob justice, ignorance on law and lawful procedures. They were sensitized on dangers of mob justice, crime prevention, police laws and procedures including police bond. The border Communities of Odramacaku were urged to work and cooperate with police in order to secure their area which is abit volatile in terms of serious crimes.
In Vurra Customs, Arua District bordering DR Congo, common offences were found to be Cross border crimes like theft of cattle, motorcycles, theft of fuel from parked trucks, substance abuse, ignorance of the law and lawful procedures, mob justice. Police sensitized them on reporting and prevention of cross border crimes, dangers of mob justice and its prevention, dangers of substance abuse, harmonious existence among the cosmopolitan population of Vurra Customs, aspects of laws and lawful procedures to be followed.
In all these areas, community members were advised not to take law into their hands but to use the lawful Government offices to handle their problems. For civil matters like endless quarrels, destruction of crops by animals, land ownership and others, reports be made in the office of LC1, LC2, LC3 and Civil Court incase the lower levels fail to handle. For criminal matters like thefts, robberies, assaults, threatening violence, gun trafficking, sex related offences, child neglect and others, cases be reported to the area police post/Station for further management, and the complainants should follow their cases with police up to court till judgement. Communities were sensitized on police bond and conditions of getting police bond, police bond is a right and it's not end of a case, besides that it's free of charge.
Members of the general public were urged to have contacts of their area OC posts, OC stations, Oc traffic, CLO, DPC, RPC and other responsible offices for timely sharing of information for quick action especially in cases of emergencies. Police is committed to serving the communities professionally, and those not satisfied with the services of an officer(s) may register their complains in higher police offices of the area and Professional Standards Unit for better management. Community policing will continue in other areas depending on the unique nature of crimes committed, and this will prepare our region for a very peaceful festive season.
SSP Angucia Josephine
PRO West Nile Region.
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