Residents decry insecurity in Kuje community

The community, which is located several kilometres away from Kuje town, is said to be constantly under attack by robbers, mostly at nights.
A resident, Sherack Mika, said the robbers usually lay siege at the narrow and lonely road linking Kuje to the community and dispossessed residents of their valuables.
He said the robbers were usually armed with machetes, knives and local guns, adding that some residents had been hurt in the recent past.
Mika, who said no one had been killed by the robbers, however, said the situation has been a source of concern and worry to members of the community.
Corroborating Mika, another resident, Sarki Samuel said the robbers carried out their nefarious act at Usher River and Chido River, two lonely spots at the neighbouring Godoji village, which residents pass through before reaching Shaji.
Samuel said he had been a victim in the past but narrowly escaped, adding that his friend was not as lucky as he was.
Meanwhile, Aso Chronicle’s investigation revealed that the community has no police outpost and the nearest one is located at Kuje town.
The community, also, has no vigilante group, a situation that has paved the way for robbers to operate unchecked.
Checks revealed that previous efforts by members of the community to establish a vigilante group had failed as they were said to be afraid to confront the marauding robbers.
Samuel has therefore called on the area council to come to the aid of the community by situating a police outpost in their domain to curb criminal acts, adding that until that was done, residents would continue to live in fear of the unknown as no one could tell when the robbers would strike again.