Garissa sub-county commissioner Hidi Galgallo has urged parents to closely monitor the movements of their kids, saying they were an easy target for terror cells out to recruit them to their gangs.
Addressing locals who had gathered in Bula College, the administrator said it was the responsibility of parents as responsible citizens to know who their children interact with so as to safely keep them from getting into bad company.
“I appeal to the parents to help us in maintaining security by looking after their kids. Report to any nearby police officer if you suspect your kid has joined errant groups, so we may take necessary action," he said.
"Teenagers are easily lured and swayed by friends into engaging in ll sorts of anti-social behaviours and petty crimes mainly because of peer pressures,” he pointed out.
Galgallo encouraged parents to ensure that their children are not idle, disclosing that offences by juveniles under the ages of 15 were on the rise across the county.
He added that organised gangs were using school children to stage crimes.
The state official blamed local gangs saying they were probably behind the wave of increasing cases of handbag mgging from women in Garissa town and surrounding environs.
He also said local police were on the watch and would deal firmly with the culprits. He announced that security personnel have so far identified several residents and non-residents who are involved in muggings