Juba officials concerned over escalating crime rates

March 15, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state officials have expressed concerns over increasing crimes rates, citing the wave of armed robberies that have hit the capital, Juba in recent weeks.

Samuel Suba, the state information minister said three people were killed at a forex bureau, among several other incidences reported.

“These cases of theft which have escalated for the last two months in Juba town, particularly at night in some areas that have limited [road] access for police patrol and the areas with the poor road connectivity,” Suba told reporters on Sunday.

A gunman killed two people before killing himself, eyewitnesses said.

Suba, however, observed that crimes rate reduced in 2014 after police introduced a hotline, but criminals still exploit certain loopholes.

“Thieves have taken the advantage of exploiting these weaknesses and they are disturbing the civil population in those areas,” he said.

The official urged citizens to make good use of the 777 emergency hotline.

But some Juba residents claim police response was often very slow.

“I called that 777 hotline when my neighbor was attacked the police arrived two hours later,” said John Ladu, a resident of Sherikat, a Juba surburb.

“I am not sure if those police are well equipped to deal with these criminals,” he added.

KILLING INCIDENCES

In early February, gunmen entered Kenyan Commercial Bank (KCB) in Juba town, killed a policeman and went away with undisclosed amounts of money.

Days later, unknown gunmen attacked money changers operating the black market, killed a person and looted huge sums of money in both local and foreign currency.

Meanwhile, no arrests have since been made in connection to these various killings.

(ST)