TANZANIA: THE Police Force has arrested 130 suspects across the country over alleged involvement in planning and inciting criminal activities through social media and private meetings, police said yesterday.
Police Spokesperson David Misime said in a statement issued yesterday that the suspects are alleged to have participated in organising meetings, preparing and circulating messages that encouraged criminal acts aimed at destabilising the country.
“As a result of our ongoing surveillance, a total of 130 suspects has been arrested in various regions. They are alleged to have been planning, participating in meetings and preparing and disseminating messages encouraging these unacceptable criminal activities. Investigations are in their final stages to pave the way for further legal action,” Mr Misime said.
Police allege that the suspects planned to incite people to kill leaders and members of the public, burn schools, destroy electricity transformers, vandalise public and private property and attack security officers to seize firearms. Mr Misime assured the public that Tanzania’s security situation remains calm and stable, adding that the Police Force, in collaboration with other defence and security agencies, continues to implement measures to maintain peace and ensure citizens carry on with their daily activities in a secure environment.
“Today, (yesterday), we wish to inform the public that the security situation in the country remains calm,” he said.
He said the arrests followed intelligence and surveillance operations launched after authorities detected criminal activities allegedly being coordinated through social media platforms and other channels, including private meetings.
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Mr Misime recalled that in security updates issued on June 19 and July 5 this year, the Police Force warned the public against circulating messages promoting criminal activities and instead urged recipients to delete such content immediately.
“We urged anyone who receives messages encouraging criminal acts through social media not to share them but to delete them,” he said.
He further assured Tanzanians that security agencies remain on high alert and are pursuing other suspects believed to have been involved in the alleged activities.
“We continue to assure the public of adequate security at all times while tracking down the remaining suspects so that they can be arrested and subjected to legal action,” Mr Misime said.