By Prince J Musa in Kenema.
Following the arrest of six alleged gang members from two factions at Largo Town in Kenema, the Assistant Inspector General of Police East, Thomas Mustapha Lahai, has warned parents to caution their children against involvement with cliques and gangsterism.
The move by the AIG was precipitated by a clash between the rival gang in Largo Village in the outskirt of Kenema, which according to him destabilized the peace and security of the community.
Addressing parents and community stakeholders on Friday, 16 October at regional police headquarters in Kenema, AIG Lahai noted that they received a distress call from community people that two factions had attacked each other. He added that with the swift intervention of the police, they were able to arrest six people suspected of involvement in the incident.
"Police rushed at the scene and were able to arrest six of them. The boys that were arrested were in possession of knives, razorblade and other weapons. Since assumption of office as AIG east, this is my first encounter with the issue of cliques and gangsters and I will not tolerate it at all. I decided to call stakeholders to inform them about my stance against lawlessness and indiscipline,” he said.
“Parents are to take the lead in advising their children against gangsterism. I will not listen to any plea for any boy or boys that maybe caught involving in cliques and gangsterism. Anyone again caught from now on will face the brunt of the law,” he stressed.
The eastern region police boss noted that poor parenting and peer groups were the root cause of bad attitude adopted by children, noting that it’s the duties of stakeholders, law enforcement agencies, parents and other institutions to make the children grow into better adults who can contribute meaningfully to national development.
The AIG East later pardoned the suspects, but he said it’s the last time he was going to pardon anyone caught for such activities.
"This is going to be first and last grace period to boys involved in cliques and gangsters,” he said.
He added that they were going to popularize the operation against cliques and gangsters soon through sensitization in schools and other places.
The Senior Service Officer, Ministry of Social Welfare, Kenema, Darlington Karjue, expressed dismay over the attitude of the boys, noting that it was frustrating government efforts in ensuring better education and standard of living for children of Sierra Leone.
"It’s frustrating to see such acts despite all efforts that government is doing to bring quality education to the children. As Ministry of Social Welfare, we will give full support to the security to implement the requisite measures against lawlessness", he said.
In his statement, the Commissioner east, National Commission for Democracy, Momoh Bockarie, noted that their role as a commission is to ensure democratic value and respect to the rule of law.
"As a commission, we want young people to be developed through quality education. Some parents may be responsible for most of the attitude of the boys. Lack of proper monitoring has been the key problem in some of the homes. We want positive youths for the future of this country," he said, adding: “though the social welfare is there to protect children, the ministry will not stand by to support negative behavior of young people."
Bockarie commended the AIG east for pardoning the six clique boys detained, while admonishing the boys to quit bad attitude.
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