Sogakope: A group of concerned Muslim youth in the Sogakope Zongo community in the South Tongu District, have taken decisive action to clamp down on the rising incidents of robbery and drug abuse, allegedly perpetrated by some individuals within the area.
According to Ghana News Agency, the group, led by Mr. Abdul-Rauph Saka, stormed and ransacked three rooms within local 'ghetto' apartments suspected to be the operational base of a group of Muslim youths allegedly involved in criminal activities. The move was motivated by the recent spate of robberies that rocked the district and left many local traders in fear for their lives and livelihoods.
Mr. Saka revealed that some of their own community members were at the forefront of these robberies. After thorough investigations, stolen items such as bags of cement, buckets of paint, and cartons of tiles, among others, were found in the rooms they cleared. He stated, "We couldn't sit by any longer while our community suffers."
He emphasized that the actions taken were part of broader community efforts to restore peace and security, adding that prior approval had been sought from the local police to shut down the identified hideouts. Mr. Saka stressed the need for vigilance and community-police collaboration in tackling the menace, saying, "We will do everything possible to ensure our Zongo becomes a safe place to live, and we are committed to working closely with the law enforcement agency."
Other residents also expressed their frustrations, citing an increasing fear of theft and violent behaviors associated with drug use among some of the youth. One resident said, "We're scared to even sleep peacefully at night. Sometimes we must hide our cooking utensils because they steal anything they can sell after using drugs. It's disturbing."
The Ghana News Agency observed that calm had been restored in the Zongo community at the time of filing the report, with residents resuming their daily activities amidst heightened vigilance. However, the GNA's efforts to reach the District Police Command proved futile.
