POLICE in Katavi Region have apprehended 45 suspected juvenile criminals aged between 11 and 24 years for allegedly engaging in criminal activities in different parts of Mpanda Municipality.
Updating journalists over the weekend here in the municipality, Katavi Regional Police Commander (RPC) Ms Kaster Ngonyani said the arrest of the suspects was made possible following the crackdown against the juvenile groups that are suspected of involvement in robbery incidents and assaults in some parts of Mpanda Municipality.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ms Ngonyani the notorious juvenile groups that have been operating under the nicknames ‘damu chafu’, ‘mazombe’, ‘manyigu’, ‘kaburi moja’ and ‘wafu’ have been terrorising people in some parts of the municipality.
ACP Ngonyani said that the notorious groups were becoming serious threat to the safety and security of people and their properties in Majengo, Nswemulwa and Kazuma streets.
As of late, they also targeted funeral gatherings, bars, night clubs and pubs as well as people walking on streets at night wielding machetes and other lethal weapons and subsequently made away with valuable items including cell phones and cash stolen from people,” explained the regional police boss.
She further stressed that the crackdown to combat criminals is continuous targeting to uncover all criminal gangs’ members and brought them into books.
According to regional police boss, all suspected criminals will be arraigned into court after preliminary investigations of their case are completed.
