The National Security Service in Juba has arrested about 10 suspected Toronto boys, including a woman said to be their ring leader.
The national security services revealed at a press conference held at their headquarters in Juba that the arrest was made after a successful crackdown in the city.
Speaking during the press conference, the South Sudan National Security Service Director of Public Relations, David John, hailed the arrest as a step to addressing insecurity.
“The national security service operation forces have cracked down and arrested more than 10 suspected criminals accused of frequent road snatching, locally known as Toronto,” he said.
John stressed that the operation followed a ‘‘series of dismaying highway and city robberies while on motorcycles, which sometimes resulted in the loss of personal belonging and injuries on the victims.’’
He added the crackdown and the arrest of the Toronto boys ‘‘was an alarm to the rest of their partners-in-crimes to steadfastly continue the act or risk being arrested’’.
The NSS officers said the suspects were being interrogated and would soon be arraigned.
The NSS boss touched on a recent incident where a pregnant woman riding on a Boda Boda was pulled from a motorcycle by bag snatchers, dragging her and causing her death.
“This and other forms of criminal acts committed by the group have traumatised and instilled fear in the minds and hearts of residents of Juba City, as well as other cities across the country where the ordeal has occurred,” he explained.
John called on the public to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies by identifying suspects to create a peaceful and ‘‘secure state-of-the-art living environment.’’
Alarm raised
Last week, Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, petitioned the Juba City Mayor, Michael Allah-Jabu, over the rising criminal activities in the Juba City by the Toronto Boys.
Yakani said the operations by the Toronto boys were disturbing because no law enforcers had shown concern in dealing with them.
He blamed the Juba City Council for failing to track down the Toronto boys despite having all powers available.
“Lord Mayor, Juba City, A 16-year-old boy has lost his left eye after he was reportedly attacked by snatchers, commonly known as Toronto boys, in Juba. This follows the incident of an expectant mother of 31 years old who has been dragged off a boda-boda by street bag snatchers, commonly known as “Toronto boys” in Juba a week ago and has died,” Yakani said.
He said the leadership of Juba City, police, and security were supposed to design measures to end the Toronto crimes in Juba City.
“Now Toronto activities are claiming lives and [the Toronto boys are] brutally beating young people, like in the case of Wichdial William, whose left eye was removed. “These acts of Toronto must be stopped, ” he added.
CEPO urged law enforcement agencies, state police commissioners, and state security services to keep a close eye on the Toronto boys.
He said the deployment of security and police to track down the Toronto activities during the day could be some of the best solutions to control their activities in Juba City.