As the country faces a sudden spike in violent crime, former Interior minister and leader of the Gambia Moral Congress, Mai Ahmad Fatty has decried the growing security challenges, saying he is extremely worried.
“I am extremely worried about the dangerous, persistent trend, characteristic of alleged offenders wrecking havoc in our communities’, Mr Fatty said in a statement made available to the Alkamba Times, referencing the rapid rise in crime wreaked by young culprits.
With the majority of alleged suspects between the ages of 16 and 23 years, the former interior minister called for a more committed efforts directly engaging youth employment and productivity.
‘Clearly, empirical evidence suggests that young Gambians are increasingly attracted to violent crime. This is a collective indictment against society. We must act fast to arrest this debilitating trend. We must build a sustainable future for our youth, here at home. We must translate words into urgent action. We must, as a matter of national emergency, heed the call of our youths, via the grim consequences on our streets. I do not mean to convey any iota of justification of crimes being committed, but draw attention to silent decibels suffocating the public space. This is a shared responsibility,’ the Gambia’s first Interior Minister in the post Jammeh era said in a statement.
Mr Fatty’s comments come in the wake of the brutal killing of young national audit staff ousman Jarju, last weekend by armed bandits.
Acting fast to apprehend the suspects and mitigate current security challenges, the Gambia police force earlier announced the arrest of two people who have been charged with the murder of Mr. Jarju.
