The commissioner of Police in the Lower River Region (LRR) has vowed that the security services in his region would partner and cooperate with the operatives of the Operation Bulldozer to curb cattle rustling in the region.

Omar Jawo was speaking to the Daily Observer in an interview at his office in Mansakonko shortly after a meeting with officials of the Operation Bulldozer who are on a nationwide tour meant to seek the opinion of the people on the initiative. He identified cattle rustling as the biggest security challenge in the region, while describing Bulldozer as an initiative aimed at saving the country.

“I have given out all the necessary support when the Bulldozer came here and I authorised my men on the ground to cooperate in bringing criminals to justice,” he said.He added: “If your hands are clean why should you hide?” Commissioner Jawo further stated that he wants to have the Bulldozer operating in the region on weekly basis, while indicating that the whole region has a very minimal crime rate.

Foday Camara, the chairman of Mansakonko Area Council also applauded the Gambian leader for the initiative, saying the Bulldozer has come at a right time, to get rid of drug trafficking and cattle theft in the country. He urged for the decentralisation of their operation, saying as parents they are very appreciative of the move as drug is very implicating and dangerous to the society.

“A great number of youths in the country use drugs and they are the future leaders of our nation,” he lamented.

For his part, the governor of LRR, Lamin Darboe, said the people of the region welcome the initiative, which he described as a giant move aimed at curbing criminality in the country. “We are always ready to help in all means to ensure that this crusade is a successful one,” he assured. He added that the reaction of the people of the region has been very positive, even though there were not many arrests in the region.