Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Babra Akech has called on local leaders and residents of Okwongodul Sub-county in Dokolo South, Dokolo District, to strengthen community security efforts following reports of rising theft, robbery and other criminal activities.
Akech made the call during a security meeting attended by Local Council I and II leaders, parish chiefs, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO), the sub-county security team and her Office.
The meeting brought together leaders from five parishes—Apenyoweo, Anyacoto, Ageni, Aneralibi and Okwongodul—who expressed concern over persistent insecurity and its impact on residents.
Akech urged local leaders to unite and take collective responsibility for improving security in their respective communities.
She tasked LCII chairpersons with organising parish-level meetings involving LCIs and establishing committees to strengthen the fight against theft and other criminal activities.
She also cautioned local leaders against keeping exhibits in their personal possession, emphasising that all such items should be handed over to the appropriate security agencies.
Akech further urged residents to promptly report security-related incidents to the relevant authorities to enable timely intervention.
The Assistant RDC in charge of Dokolo South, Isaac Ocheng, called on local leaders to organise community meetings to establish appropriate rules and regulations for addressing the challenges affecting their areas.
Ocheng particularly urged leaders to introduce measures to regulate loud music played late at night in trading centres, which had been identified as another source of concern.
Similarly, Apule Sam, the Community Liaison Officer for Okwongodul Sub-county, appealed to the Office of the RDC to strengthen security deployments in identified crime-prone areas.
He also encouraged local leaders to resolve minor disputes within their communities before they escalate into serious security incidents.
The Gombolola Internal Security Officer, Okori Tom, identified several factors contributing to insecurity in the sub-county, including the theft of livestock and chickens, wetland encroachment, allegations of witchcraft, and the cultivation and consumption of marijuana.
Okwongodul Sub-county LCIII Chairperson Julius Peter Odur claimed that approximately 70 per cent of households in the area grow marijuana, citing recent security assessments and community reports.
Odur also singled out Ageni Parish, where he alleged that some youths had been linked to criminal activities, including breaking into homes, robbery and waylaying people along roads.
However, the claim regarding marijuana cultivation among 70 per cent of households could not be independently verified.
Alfred Odongo, the Local Council I chairperson of Atwako B Village in Aneralibi Parish, said marijuana cultivation and consumption remained a major concern in the community.
Odongo explained that local leaders had repeatedly warned individuals allegedly involved in the practice but had instead faced insults, prompting him to appeal to the Office of the RDC for support.
He said the situation had undermined peace in the community and called for stronger interventions to address the problem.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Ogwal, the LCII chairperson of Anyacoto Parish, expressed concern over some business operators who reportedly play loud music late into the night, particularly those operating near health facilities hence causing insecurity in the area.
In Apenyoweo Parish, Engol Joel, the Local Council I chairperson of Ajwati Village, described his village as a major hotspot for theft and called for the deployment of security personnel to help combat the vice.
The leaders attributed the security challenges partly to the reported cultivation and consumption of marijuana, alongside other factors affecting law and order in the sub-county.
The meeting concluded with a call for stronger cooperation between residents, local leaders and security agencies to address the underlying causes of insecurity and promote peace across Okwongodul Sub-county.