WAR AGAINST CRIME

THE arrest of 157 suspected criminals and drug peddlers in parts of
Accra recently marks a watershed in the effort of the security
agencies to rid the society of miscreants.

The alleged criminals were arrested at their hideouts in a dawn swoop
in a joint police/military exercise at Alajo, Avenor, Kwame Nkrumah
Circle, Abossey Okai, Darkuman, Cable and Wireless, Neoplan Station
and La Wireless, all in Accra.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations,
Patrick Timbilla, the exercise had become necessary to rid the country
of criminals and drug peddlers.

He said one Ak 47 rifle, two small sharp axes and a sharp knife were
retrieved from some of the suspects. Also retrieved were quantities of
dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp wrapped in polythene bags.

The Times takes this opportunity to congratulate the police-cum
military patrol team for the wonderful job done.

We hope and pray that they will not rest on their oars but will
continue until all the criminals have been flushed out.

The Times is in no doubt about the significance of these arrests. They
will make residents of Accra and its surrounding areas have their
peace of mind in the knowledge that the terrorists are in police grip.
However, the Times will like to appeal to the general public to
volunteer information that will enable the police to deal with crime
effectively.

It is a fact that thieves are not the only menace to society. There
are drug pushers out there corrupting the youth and leading them into
crime. The Times appeals to the IGP and his men to extend the war on
criminals to drug pushers.

Indeed, when such characters are flushed out, law abiding citizens
would get a more peaceful environment that will induce people to work
harder for progress.

While we are at it, the Times takes the opportunity to re-echo an
earlier appeal to the government to equip the police with the needed
logistics and improved working conditions to enable them to give of
their best.

While the society expects the police to work harder, they need to be
well equipped to aid them to do their very best.

Once again, the Times congratulates the security agencies for their
wonderful performance regardless of the limited resources at their
disposal.