Arua City Crime Rate Drops as Notorious Gang Leaders Surrender to Police
SP Collins Asea while addressing journalists in his office on Wednesday Photo Credit Andrew Cohen Amvesi
ARUA. The new year has begun on a good note in Arua city as police continue to register a decline in the rate of criminality in the area.
This was revealed by SP Collins Asea, the Police Spokesperson for the West Nile region during a press briefing in his office on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Asea attributed the decline in criminality to the voluntary coming out of criminal gang leaders.
“In the last two months, we have so far received a total of eight criminals. The ringleader who is called Ali Tororo has surrendered to us. Ali has a group called Gaza near the Airfield and Smash. When we interfaced, he gave us so many groups he had created in Arua city and basically, they were robbing people with phones, bags and even motorcycles,” Asea said.
But Asea noted that from the time Ali came out, the area around the Airfield and from YY Bus to Baby Coach bus park have become very safe apart from the area in Smash.
He said Ali came with another group, confessing that they are now tired and that they want to leave all the acts of criminality they have been involved in.
“I’m also urging the community members that please, you welcome these criminal gang leaders because people change and it is you to monitor them. In case they go back to their criminal activities, the community members will also know and their coming out doesn’t mean that their past files are closed; those files are still active and when they go back, the files will be activated and taken to court,” Asea warned.
Asea said besides Ali, they also received Chika who used to operate around the area of Jiako and Crub.
“He came with his group and also confessed that yes, he has left robbing people and we should give him a chance. However, security is also monitoring them. The community should also inform us of whatever thing they do,” Asea remarked.
“There is also this one called Bashir Ega alias Tito Tong who is the ringleader of the criminals around the other side of the Airfield. So, yesterday we interacted with him and he said he is going to deactivate those groups and in case we get any bad message about him, he should be arrested,” Asea added.
According to Asea, it is now upon the community members to help police with any information regarding criminality on the ground for quick and timely action.
“Generally, of late, the West Nile region is calm and peaceful in terms of security, and it is because we are working together with the community. In the last four to five months, cases of simple robbery and accidents have dropped. This is because of the collaboration we are having with the community and media. I would like to thank you and always encourage you to support us so that we make our region safe from criminality,” Asea said.