– breaking into homes, molesting young girls
– residents plead for army to assist
A large gang of men, some of whom are armed with “bush” (homemade) guns, have been breaking into homes in the North West District (NWD) and molesting young girls over the last week, leaving villagers traumatized and afraid to sleep in their homes at night.
This week police in the area arrested two men believed to be gang members, but despite this and the formation of citizens’ patrol groups in Hosororo, Bumbury and Wanaina, the gang has continued to operate. Stabroek News attempted to get a comment from Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene yesterday but was unsuccessful.
Residents of the area said it is believed that the men are from settlements along the Aruka River, which runs through Hosororo, which is home to some 1,200 people. Bumbury is the next village followed by Wanaina. These two communities have much smaller populations.
Yesterday residents made a plea for the army, which has a base some three miles from the terrorized communities, to lend some assistance. They said the men would strike and then escape into the thick bushes making it difficult to capture them. The gang has been attacking all three villages, sometimes simultaneously.
Speaking to this newspaper, a prominent resident of Hosororo said that on Monday night 12 men surrounded a house in the village with the apparent intention of breaking in, but eventually abandoned that plan and moved on to other houses in the area.
The woman, who did not want her name published, said the men are “entering people’s home and molesting their girl children”.
So far, there have been no reports of actual rape, but, according to information, the men have succeed in fondling the breasts and pulling at the underpants of the girls, some of whom are as young as 12 years old. The resident said the men are unable to do anything else because the girls would wake up and scream alerting the entire household.
The resident said the police were informed about the situation last week after it escalated into a nightly occurrence. She said some 10 girls have been victims, adding that the figure could be higher, but some residents might be either afraid or ashamed to come forward.
The woman told Stabroek News that the officers from the Mabaruma Police Station later called a meeting on Hosororo Hill with the men of the three affected communities to help find a way to handle the situation.
“People scared bad. They can’t sleep at night,” she said, pointing out that while there is one straight road that runs through the communities from the river; there are several other tracks that lead from the river.
She said that from the information that is circulating, the men are coming from the river and appear to be spraying a chemical, which seems to have a debilitating effect on persons, before they strike.
The woman said it appeared that the sole intention of the gang is to molest young girls because so far the only thing that has been stolen is a generator. However, the generator was since recovered, having been found in possession of one of the men who was arrested.
Of the three, Hosororo is the only community with electricity, but this is shut off between 11 and 12 each night.
Villagers have to depend on generators and lamps for light. The resident said the cunning gang members would put out the lamp once they entered a house.
Stabroek News was told a 12-year-old schoolgirl from the village was molested but was sent to school without the matter being reported to the police as the station is located some 3½ miles away. According to the resident, the police station is too far away and an outpost should be set up in the area.
The resident said the child’s home was a flat house and instead of louvres on the windows, there are bars. The men removed the bars, entered the home and cut the net that was over the bed the girl was sleeping in.
The woman said that the child was taken to the police by teachers at the school and then after her mother arrived a statement was taken.
Subsequently, three policemen in a car began patrolling the villages on Monday night but the gang still continued to strike.
Quiet community
Another resident of Hosororo told this newspaper that she has been living in the community for 10 years and this never happened before.
She recalled that last Thursday she was at home with her three children when she heard a rapping at her front door and a noise at the door of her fowl pen some time after 11 pm.
The woman said that she made no attempt to get up because she knew it was the men. She recalled that there was a time when residents slept with their windows open but now all windows have to be nailed shut.
The resident said there was probably very little the police could do, since there were only about six officers manning the police station.
A father recalled to Stabroek News yesterday how he was awakened by the screams of his 15-year-old daughter during the wee hours of last Thursday.
He said he rushed to her aid and heard footsteps at the back of house. He later found his back door open but there was no one in sight.
The man said the children of a headmaster who runs a school 7-8 miles up river were molested on Monday night.
He explained that the homes in these communities are not as close together as those in the city and there is thick bush between many properties. He said that on Monday night alone there were at least three incidents.
According to the reports, some of the men wear masks and are armed with guns.
The resident stressed that his community was once a peaceful one but today, once it gets dark residents are consumed by fear as they do not know what the men will do next.
What the residents need to do is to set alarm traps in their yards and at the windows and doors of their homes that will alert them before the bandits can strike.
If possible, set traps that can cause bodily injury until the cops get there.
Don’t be scared, fight back !!!! with common scense.
Here is an idea Mr. President. Every community, village, town, city needs to have a functional and adequately equipt police presence. Mr. Luncheon, please provide a budget to accommodate these needs.
Also Mr. President, Stop this acting game with the police commissioner and put him to work. He can be more effective if the acting stops, he’s been in that roll too long.
Guns in the hands of villagers are not the solution – more police presence in the villages are what is required. For such a small community, it is very strange that since these attacks no one in the village was able to positively identify any of these bandits. It is either they are not living there or they are Venezuelans/Brazilians?
Last Big problem, they had to offer a BIG REWARD.
I guess it will be the same this time,
Show me the money, we’ll catch em.
This is what the poor people has to face with now,
We have to offer a reward to get some action from those who are paid to protect us,
Talk the law into your own hands, if they come in your house shoot them
Its now me and me Pickney, or YOU,
Sorry it got to this.
I really taught the jungles of Guyana only had 4 foot animals,
SO NOW WE HAVE BRED< 2 Foot Animals.
WE HAVE TO CATCH THEM AND JAIL THEM FOR A LONG TIME.
Most important topic that was’nt mentioned is the popo’s request of the citizens “to help them (the popo’s,) with the situation,” why citizens should help these policemen, they are helping them already, by paying their salaries, what kind of services these citizens receiving from Mr. Greene, who have not returned calls, he (Mr. Greene,) should have visited this area STAT, is he awaiting another citizen’s death or better yet, another child’s rape/death, before some relief is given, STAT.?
It was stated, that one of these men was caught, he should be questioned concerning the other names, keep him locked up until he sings, but remember, don’t “rough” him up, and state, he banged his head on the concerete.
All parents in these areas should join together, make some traps around the homes, so when these scumbags tries to enter the surroundings, they would be caught by their feet.
Take community watches, clear away all bushes, that are not ediable produce, there are other methods that can be used to alarm all, that someone is entering the area.
Since these intruders are gun toting criminals, I would not advise anyone to approach them, if there’s a neighbor with a license gun, use it to protect your home and family, do not take the law into your hands with an unlicensed gun.
Since these scumbags are using some sort of chemicial/s, to place a deep sleep on citizens, then Mr. Greene must post his popo’s there, until these scumbags are caught.
I hope Mr. Greene would take care of this urgent matter, we are going to look forward to hear of his actions to bring about relief to these decent citizens and their children.
I hope also that Mr. Greene would not allow any citizens blood to be spilt or worst a child’s innocence taken, due no none STAT actions.
this visionless ruthless govt can find 50,mill to pay out to killers
but cant find money to hire more cops to work in the interior and protect
our borders and check points, they cant rule never never never, they have
no political skills…
No Torbo…they are far from visionless!!! They have a clear vision for that area which fits quite neatly in to their vision for making things right for themselves….and not necessarily for the average Guyanese. You see, it is in the PPP’s interest to maintain a state of disorder along our Western borders. Why?… you may ask. Because there is a lot of “interborder trade” taking place in those areas which benefit in a primary way its wealthy supporters. If law and order were to be established in those areas these “activities” as we know them would have to cease..or a lot of people would end up in jail !!! Ole people say…….”talk haf an lef haf !! “
Guyana finish
“Bush” guns aka Home made Gun? WOW, they should use that ingenuity towards more productive activities… perhaps pursue a career in engineering… if only the economy was such that people could make a living.
I really hate to see what our country has come to. I in no way condone the deplorable and heinous crimes but when opportunities are weighted only in one sector, you tend to have anarchy and lawlessness. It seems since the PPP took over job opportunities are abundant in one race and nonexistent in the other. Not everyone has the same level of education, but I am sure there are people who were willing to work at all levels and were denied opportunities. When the fat cats lay up while there is a famine in the land, then nobody sleeps. Food for thought.
I think if Henry stop acting and start being a director all these movie kind of crime wave will come to an end