In the wake of a resurgence of criminal gangs captured on Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) in broad daylight terrorising residents, Mvita Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Ahmed Mohamud said they have tightened the noose on criminals, arresting more than 163 suspected criminals over the weekend.
On Saturday, a three-man gang wielding pangas who rode on a motorcycle were captured on CCTV in the Moons area, Tononoka ward, robbing a man. They later sped off to the stadium area and committed the same atrocity.
DCC Mohamud said the incidents happened within Mombasa town, and the subcounty security and intelligence committee met and devised strategies for flushing out all the criminal gangs in the CBD.
On Saturday night, two operations were conducted, one spearheaded by police officers from Makupa police station, where 24 criminals were arrested and are set to be arraigned in court on Monday.
Another operation was multi-agency with officers from the Central Police Station, the DCI, the administration, and the County Inspectorate.
“We managed to arrest 75 suspected criminals, and they were put into custody at Central Police Station waiting to be arraigned in court today, and 64 were apprehended on Sunday,” DCC said.
He said the influx of street families has exacerbated the situation as criminals disguised as street families to mug residents and have allegedly turned the Makadara ground into their home.
“We don’t have a place to take and rehabilitate them, but we are still in talks with the county government as more operations are in the offing,” DCC said.
He assured residents of their safety, calling on the public to provide evidence and formally lodge their complaints at police stations.
“If the case has no complaint, that case is already dismissed because there’s no complainant,” he said.
Members of the public were urged to provide intelligence information to the authorities for the police to arrest criminals to discontinue the havoc they cause.
He requested the residents and leaders to support the security efforts, which will make the city a peace haven.
“We are strengthening our intelligence operations, and any information we get, even if it is not true, we have to analyse and investigate,” DCC said.
He promised the residents to enhance raids to drug dens where criminals usually meet.
He said they plan to meet with Boda Boda leadership to ensure all riders have valid documents to weed out criminals from the vibrant sector.
On Saturday, the Mombasa County Government launched a crackdown on street urchins and street families who have been a nuisance to residents.
Mombasa has reportedly witnessed a surge in street families who have jammed all the major streets in the CBD to the chagrin of pedestrians and shoppers.
