Shiekh Musa Jallow in his sermon on Friday September 23rd, said the recent surge in crime rates is as a result of corruption and the state of our economy. He spoke at length at the Masjid Ansarul Islam mosque in Abuko, about issues that lead to the crimes being committed by our youths. Among other issues, he talked about lack of security, bad laws, corrupt officials, and unstable economy.
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In an audio obtained by this medium, Imam Jallow said one of the reasons for the high crime rates in the country is the poor economic conditions that are not favourable to the average Gambian. He said crime rates will continue to rise in The Gambia as long as people do not have the means to sustain themselves.
“We need to think about this: why are killings on the rise? Why is theft increasing? We need to study carefully as to why one person would have the power and mind to kill or steal from someone. One of the reasons is the economy. If you look at most killings, in addition to attitudinal issues, people want to improve their livelihoods. This is why when the economy is not stable such that people get what they are supposed to, crime rates will continue to rise”. If a person does not have what to eat, he will try to steal, kill, or become corrupt”, the Imam said.
The Mahad Oustaz blames the government for the corruption and lack of Political Security in the country. He believes these are the causes of the surge in crime rates. According to him, the Interior Minister, particularly, has been silent in the midst of all the killings, theft, and other crimes that continue to increase among Gambians. He said these threatening situations pose a threat to people’s religious practices and other socio-economic activities, and that it is the responsibility of the people responsible for our affairs to solve these problems.
“Crimes have increased in the country because the people responsible for these issues are not carrying out their responsibilities. People are not paid attention to when they talk about corruption nowadays, because of their personal gains. Eating something that belongs to every Gambian; that stops in this life and you will be accounted for it one day. There are so many problems in this country, and they can be solved by strengthening the security sector. The Minister of Interior should make sure that the country is safe and secure, because there is nothing more important than being able to pray, work, and go about your business at any time of the day without any fear. These things were not this rampant, and we need to find the causes, talk about them, and find solutions to them. The key players to this should the President and his appointees.
Oustaz Jallow also pointed out that drugs have been contributing a great deal in the recent happenings, which he believes should be looked into by the authorities. He said he will not mention names, but there are people whose pockets get filled up because of these drugs that continue to harm out youths. He said law makers have a huge role to play in ensuring the safety of the country. He also frowns at the silent approach taken by the government amidst these trying times.
“Half the crimes committed in this country are caused by drugs. But the people responsible for fighting against drugs are the authorities. People are quiet about it because that is where they fill their pockets from. It is clear that there are Gambians behind the huge amounts of drugs entering the country. The Gambian constitution is made up of laws that has been there for ages and have proven to be unable to solve our problems, but unfortunately, no one is doing anything about them. As Gambians, we should normalize speaking about things that are not going right, regardless of whether or not we are involved or affected. The Interior and Justice Ministers have never been heard talking about these high crime rates and the measures they taking to mitigate them, but then a person cannot handle a position he or she does not deserve”, Imam Jallow buttressed.