Traders at the main Fisheries market along Maxwell Khobe Street in Kenema city have expressed serious concern over the activities of criminals in that market. Isata Sheriff a rice dealer at the market told the press that their sales are down because the activities of criminal in and around the market are driving the customers away.
She said most customers who visit the market end up crying because their mobile phones, purses and other valuables are taken away from them sometimes forcefully and the thieves run away. Most of these thieves are teenage boys as young as six to fifteen years. Madam Sheriff said when these thieves are caught and taken to the nearby police station they are released and turned loose on the hapless traders and the public in no time. The traders are now calling on the police authorities stationed near by to take robust actions to crack down on crime in the various market places, by permanently deploying police personnel at the markets. Another market woman Kadiatu Turay told the press that there is an increase in the rate of pick pocketing and rampant day light robbery at the market. She appealed to the police to act now in order to reduce the daring activities of criminals in the area.
Fisheries market is the oldest market in the Kenema city.