Fatshimetry. Goma, July 17, 2024.
The night of Tuesday to Wednesday July 17, 2024 will remain engraved in the memory of the inhabitants of the Lac Vert district, in Goma, due to a tragic event. An alleged bandit was the victim of mob justice following a series of burglaries which sowed terror among the local population. According to information gathered, individuals, nicknamed the “40 thieves” in the region, raged in the middle of the night, entering several residential houses to commit their misdeeds.
Alerted by these criminal acts, the population, under the influence of anger and fear, managed to apprehend one of the alleged criminals who was trying to flee. In an act of expeditious justice, the bandit was killed on Kimbanguiste Avenue, leaving behind an atmosphere of shock and desolation. The head of the Lac Vert district, Dedesi Mitima, strongly condemned this form of improvised justice, calling on residents to avoid taking the law into their own hands so as not to compromise the investigations carried out by the competent authorities.
This sad event once again underlines the climate of insecurity which reigns in the Lac Vert district, already bereaved by a recent incident which cost the life of a police officer and caused injuries to two civilians. At the Buhimba displaced persons site, the spiral of violence is intensifying, highlighting palpable tensions and unacceptable criminal acts.
It is essential to emphasize that popular justice, although motivated by a legitimate desire to protect the community, does not constitute a viable solution to resolve problems of insecurity. By taking the law into their own hands, citizens risk not only compromising the work of law enforcement, but also perpetuating a cycle of violence and mistrust within society.
It is therefore imperative that the authorities strengthen security measures and intensify preventive actions to guarantee the protection of citizens and restore a climate of confidence and peace in the Goma region. Only a coordinated and collaborative approach between local authorities, the police and the population will be able to put an end to the insecurity which plagues certain neighborhoods of the city.
On this dark day for the community of Lac Vert, it is more necessary than ever to remember the importance of respect for the law, community solidarity and the search for peaceful solutions to overcome the challenges of crime. Fatshimétrie will continue to closely monitor developments in Goma and call for collective mobilization to preserve the security and well-being of all residents of the region.
End of article.