The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Sa-eed, has charged the security agencies in the region to intensify efforts to immediately arrest armed robbers who have invaded the area in recent times.

He stressed the need for residents to tackle their activities without fear, considering how these criminals have succeeded in invading a number of fuel stations to carry out robberies.

At the launch of Operation Calm Life on Monday, the minister was of the view that the security agencies should be well resourced to prove their supremacy over the armed robbers, who hide under the cover of darkness to engage in criminal activities.

Mr Salifu Sa-eed warned that the days of criminal gangs tormenting residents of the region were over, taking into account the preparedness of the security agencies to deal with the situation swiftly.

In the last couple of weeks, there have been several cases of robbery, with recorded deaths and injuries – the police themselves not spared in the operations of these miscreants.

The regional minister bemoaned the fact that in recent times, a number of lives had been lost through robberies.

He therefore called on residents to volunteer information to the security agencies in order to apprehend persons who are perpetrating various crimes in communities.

Operation Calm Life is aimed at maintaining law and order in the region for people to go about their normal duties without fear or panic and to demonstrate the preparedness of the security agencies to deal with miscreants who would engage in crime in the region.

According to the minister, it is also to galvanize public support and cooperation for the law enforcement agents to be able to maintain absolute peace in the area.

A number of vehicles were distributed to the various security agencies in the region to facilitate the fight against criminal activities said to be on the rise.

The Northern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Adusei Sarpong, reiterated the readiness of his men to deal with the situation since the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) had provided them with the necessary logistics.

“Tell the criminals, especially the armed robbers that we are now prepared for them – an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The Northern Region Security Council has decided henceforth.”

Meanwhile, a combined team of armed police and military personnel, numbering 300, will be deployed to various districts as part of the operation to clamp down on criminal activities.