Kanifing East to end banditry

Inter-faith alliance formed

In the wake of a spate of criminal activities in Kanifing Estate, the mosque committee of the area, headed by Imam Baba Leigh and the Catholic Church of the blessed Sacrament Central Committee, headed by Rev Father Peter Lopez, on Tuesday convened a maiden inter-faith meeting at the Kanifing Estate Community Centre, to deal with the menace which continues to threaten the residents.

Kanifing Estate has been alarmed by a spate of criminal attacks on residents by scums of bandits who snatch use violence to snatch away mobile phones and other valuable from passers-by, especially at night.

Speaking at meeting, Imam Leigh said they have been preaching against criminal activities in the Kanifing East but this dastardly activities of criminality continue to threaten residents. Imam Leigh revealed that the formation of a joint committee will look after their social and religious issues, as some worshippers get attacked during the dawn prayers.

“These are the criminals who attack people especially during down prayers and they also seize any article (like mobile phones) that they found with you,” he said.

He emphasised the need for respect for human dignity, describing the formation of the community as timely.

For his part, Rev Father Lopez said the committee will seek the support of the police to put an end to such criminal activities. He said three members will be drawn from each of the committees (Muslim and Christian committees) for the inter-faith alliance.

“When people are out to worship their God at 6:45 am, either to the church or the mosque, unknown criminals attack them and sometimes afflict injuries,” Father Lopez confirmed.

Alhaji Abdou Jarjusey, chairman of the Kanifing East Mosque Committee and Simon Cole, chairman of the Catholic Church of the Blessed Sacrament Central Committee, both expressed similar sentiments.

However, Asi Bojang, a reporter with the Daily Observer  was on Wednesday night around 11 p.m. attacked by two unknown individuals around Glory Baptist Lower Basic School in Old Jeshwang. Asi Bojang narrated that the two men pull out their knives and threatened to kill her, They seized her two mobile phones and ran away. As she shouted immediately a man came out and chase the criminals but he could not catch neither recognise anyone of them. The case was reported to the Police at Kanifing and is presently under investigation.