Gambian president vows to wipe out crime

Banjul- Gambia (PANA) -- Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh, has reiterated his government's determination to stamp out the current surge of vices from the country, warning that the country, under his leadership, would not be a safe haven for criminals.
Jammeh pointed out that the country, in recent times particularly this year, had witnessed an increase in heinous crimes such as murder, rape, drug peddling, infanticide, burglary and robbery, amongst others.
The president spoke at the State House in Banjul, during a meeting with the local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, drawn from all the regions in the country, PANA reported from here Monday.
The meeting was meant to draw the attention of the stakeholders to the alarming crime rate, as well as to steps to be taken by the government to arrest the trend, with a view to safeguarding the citizenry.
Jammeh frowned at the current state of affairs and expressed government's readiness to execute legislations passed by the National Assembly regarding crimes.
He said the death penalty which is in the statute books but had not been implemented before, must now be executed to the letter to serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals.