Residents of Machuririati trading centre in Kitutu Masaba have appealed to the government to beef up security in the region following random theft in recent weeks targeting businesspeople.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting convened to seek remedies to the predicament, they said the only way to restore security in the region was through deployment of security personnel, who would be required to give surveillance all the time.
They also asked the government to introduce an 8pm to 6am curfew in the region as a way of identifying criminal elements who have been terrorising locals.
“We have gathered here to express our concerns to the government. We have been attacked and lost valuables to gangs mostly targeting our business premises. These attacks are unprecedented and that is why we seek an intervention from authorities,” said Kevin Makworo.
“We need police officers in this area as a way of quashing criminal elements. The government should also consider imposing a curfew from 8 [in the] evening to 6 in the morning so that whoever violating it would explain to authorities,” he added.
They said that the nearest police post was about 10km away, situated at Gesima trading centre, making criminals to take advantage of absence of security officials.
“The nearest police station is quite far and reaching them whenever there is an attack is quite difficult. We also need a police post around,” said Beatrice Moraa.