Likoni OCPD Willy Simba has cited a worrying trend of young people being part of gangs involved in violent crime in Mombasa County.
Mr Simba said that police are grappling with the emergence of knife-wielding gangs that are terrorizing residents in the Coast region.
According to Mr Simba, the criminal gangs have been recruiting youth who are an easy target, to commit crime, disrupt peace and intimidate people.
The OCPD who vowed to deal with the notorious gangs, cautioned the youth against joining the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) and other gangs that are recruiting youth.
“We are faced with emerging trends of young boys committing all sorts of crime. We are also dealing with the issues of terrorism in this area. The Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) too, has started recruiting members after its leader Omar Mwamnwadzi disappeared mysteriously recently,” he said.
The Likoni OCPD attributed the rise in crime in the region to youth engaging in drug abuse saying that drug barons have returned in the region.
“We have had the problem of illicit drug trade in Likoni which we have seen is fuelling the insecurity that we are battling with,” said Mr Simba.