The National Police Service is calling on the citizens to
help security agencies in combatting crimes through information sharing.
The appeal comes following the recent increase in killing
and shooting in Juba city where most crimes are committed by armed individuals.
On Saturday, several crimes were committed by armed men. In
the afternoon, three armed men on a motorcycle shot one person dead and injured another at the Seventh Day
roundabout. The police are currently searching for the three.
“They escaped but the security tried to chase them though it
was not possible. We are trying to trace their whereabout. Our investigation
group has been dispatched in search of them.” said James Dak Karlo, the Deputy
Police Spokesperson.
Later that evening, a police officer shot five civilians at a restaurant in
Hai Cinema over a bill dispute and he was immediately arrested by the security
organs.
On the same day, a 25-year-old boda-boda rider and student
at Don Bosco Vocational School was reportedly shot and killed in the Gumbo
Sherikat residential area.
Media reports indicate that least nine people were killed in
different areas over the weekend, all by gunmen.
Most times, the police find it hard to track down the perpetrators
of these criminal activities. Dak asks citizen to help in information sharing.
“We advise the citizens that the responsibility of security
should be all of us. The criminals are in their areas staying with them and
they don’t report. They are supposed to cooperate with us to combat these
crimes,” Dak stated.
According to Dak, economic hardship is one of the major
factors contributing to high crime rates across the country. He appealed to the
organize forces to always prioritize citizens’ safety as the government work on
addressing economic situation.
The national parliament has also resolved to summon the ministers of Defense, Interior and national security to answer questions on the increase of crime rates which Juba has been experiencing of lately.