Yakani asks gov’t to consider reformist approaches for gang members
A civil rights activist is urging the Juba City Council to use its jurisdiction to bring criminals before a court of law.
Over the weekend, the Juba City Council captured around 33 youth said to be subscribing to a gang known as the niggers. The suspects included 17 boys and 16 girls who were apprehended in the residential districts of Lologo, Atlabara, and Hai Referendum.
In a phone conversation with The City Review on Monday, Edmund Yakani said that rounding up such groups is difficult to handle in court as they are being monitored 24 hours for detention or being taken to trial or prison.
He said the fear is that the youngsters could be placed in the same prisons with experienced criminals who would guide them to become even worse than expected. Some of them are also teenagers who are unable to serve time in prison because they are minors.
Yakani said he was impressed with the arrest of the suspects, saying such elements pose a serious threat to the community.
“The mayor of Juba City Council and the leadership of Juba City Council should establish police posts in hotspots areas in residential areas where these gang groups are notorious and well known,” he urged.
‘’I think that the best solution the City Council can provide is to build police posts in the hotspots of these locations, with a mobile squad working during the night hours to function as a preventive measure within the police post. “Patrol the places to prevent them from congregating and inflicting harm, which could be a quick fix,” Yakani advised.
According to Yakani, as part of a long-term solution, the Juba City Council, in collaboration with the Central Equatoria State and the national government, should consider the establishment of youth orientation centres in residential areas. He said such centres would prevent young people from engaging in crime.
“We have a youth centre in Hai Neem. This centre is not being utilised. So, there is a need to use like Hai Neem whenever they are rounded up like that. They should be given an orientation of at least two weeks or three weeks where they can be oriented to change their attitudes, “Yakani said.
He said the youth can receive computer training, catering training, and other technical training at the facilities which will help them become more productive members of society. He urged the local government to convene a meeting to develop strategies for dealing with the gang members.
