Oro leaders must act to lower spike in crime

THE sudden spike in crime in Popondetta this year should send the alarm bells ringing within the Northern leadership.
This year, we have seen constant hold-ups and murders and many of these cases have yet to be resolved.
For instance, the shooting of a senior Price Rite employee during a hold-up and up until today, no one has been arrested or charged.
The constant hold-ups at USG service station have resulted in its closure. Again, no one has been arrested.
The Oro leaders must address these social issues immediately.
Some months after the Price Rite hold-up, raskols are terrorising the neighbourhood on a weekly basis.
Houses were burgled and victims terrorised but not a single incident was reported in our newspapers.
To add insult to injury, victims cannot call the Popondetta police station or the general hospital using their Digicel since Telikom changed the numbers.
Only those with landlines or bemobile can call the police station or hospital.
I call on the elected leaders of Northern to start taking responsibility and introduce some measures to curb this wanton behaviour by criminal elements.
My second appeal goes to Telikom to enable the landlines in Popondetta to be connected to Digicel so that users can call the police or hospital.
I suggest that Oro leaders initiate toll free numbers for emergency calls only.
With Christmas and the new school year coming up, I believe these criminal activities will continue unabated unless the leaders and police do something drastic to reduce or curb them.

Archer
Popondetta