Washington Okello, the Chairperson Youth league in industrial area, Bar-dege Layibi division of Gulu City says they were tipped off by locals in the area about the small boys who were smoking the drug in the open, at around 2pm yet they were underaged.
Nine small boys have
been arrested in a crackdown against opium smoking in Gulu City.
The boys whose names cannot be shared because they are
minors aged between 8 and 14 years, were picked up from industrial area behind a
bar belonging to one only identified as Isaac.
Washington Okello, the Chairperson Youth league in industrial area, Bar-dege Layibi division of Gulu City says they were tipped off by locals in the area about the small boys who were smoking the drug in the open, at around 2pm yet they were underaged.
Okello says that since the suspects were children, their
homes were traced and they have been handed over to their parents.
//Cue in: “anongo lutino ma
Cue out … bot lunyodo”//
Okello blames poor parental guidance for the escalating crimes registered, and mostly committed by youth.
Walter Odong Wee-yoo, the chairperson of Community policing and
crime prevention for Bar-dege Layibi division says the operation which
started a week ago will continue, following concerns from the community over increased
crimes including theft, burglary and robberies.
Odong identifies some of the hot spots as Layibi down-shop and Layibi
go-down where the children and some youths commonly known as “Aguu” go drinking
alcohol and smoking opium before carrying out attacks on unsuspecting people, mostly women.
According to Odong, the children and youths take local alcohol commonly known as “mogo-amoga” which is very bitter, chew mairungi and smoke opium.
.
//Cue in: “they are always
Cue out … in our community”//
Recently, Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa region Police
spokesperson said many people complain of being attacked by the street kids but
none of them want to report and follow up the cases with Police and court.
Okema
appeals to the public to always tip the police about the dangerous street kids who have
been causing insecurity in the region for a while now.
Michael Ojok is a multi-channel reporter based in Gulu district (Northern Uganda). He is interested in humanitarian stories, culture, conflict, peace, environment, health and education.