Seyaka Sonko, minister of Interior, has called for collaboration to fight against criminals like terrorist, drug traffickers and smugglers of humans and arms.

Mr Sonko made the call during an Inter University speech competition at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo yesterday.

“The fact that we have registered tremendous achievement, there is still room for improvement since the criminals and terrorists we are fighting are one way or the other belong to an organised groups thus we must be sophisticated and organised.

“Criminals like terrorist, drug peddlers, traffickers and smugglers of humans, and arms are always a step ahead of the security, thus collaboration, cooperation and collectiveness is the only way to defeat and control them. 

“Allowing gaps will give them room to manipulate and exploit through their means of ‘dark forces,”he said.

“It has been corroborated by researchers and scholars that since youths constitutes the bulk part of our population, the description of their vulnerability increasingly falls on both as victims and perpetrators of financial crime, predominantly in relation to drug trafficking, cyber fraud, trafficking in person, and migrant smuggling.

“This is staggering and worrisome considering the magnitude of youth involvement in this menace, however, with all hands on deck, it is possible to meaningfully reverse the trend, if forum like this and other platforms are created for young people as it will enlighten, exposed and equip them with right information and required knowledge to join the crusade to effectively and efficiently fight against these unscrupulous act,” Mr Sonko added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba