By Brima Sannoh
This is the last month in this year and in few days from now we will kiss goodbye to 2020 and welcome a brand new 2021. For now we have entered the festive season, a period when Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year holidays will be celebrated. In between these holidays there are series of lined up entertainment shows as many will be going out and about enjoying themselves in the company of loved ones, comprising family members, friends and those that hold Special places in our hearts.
This is the season of merriment and exchange of gifts.
It is also a season when criminals are on the prowl in our communities and towns lurking in the shadows to “correct” the “mistakes” of innocent unassuming individuals only to leave them wallowing in their foolhardiness or carelessness, robbing them of the joy they were expecting to enjoy.
The conmen are around town looking out for the “Johns” to make their cooked-up plans, antics and manipulations become reality. They will show things that are real, pretending to be desperate for cash and so selling at reasonable prices only to exchange the reality ones with fake to be later detected as such. By then it is one goal against the loser who is left with a fake phone, watch, trousers, dress etc after parting with hard earned money.
This is the time to be very mindful. They will snatch or ‘finger pocket’ your phones, wallets, purses while in a rush trying to board a commercial vehicle. They will attack at night with deadly weapons if they notice that you are alone or the company you are walking with is deemed vulnerable.
In their strikes they will wound, slap and sometimes rape. At this point in time it is advisable to go home late at night in groups, to have pepper spray handy in order to put up a stout resistance.
We need to be wary of our doors at night and even during the day. Let us be each other’s keeper and be ready to raise the red flag whenever the robbers want to or are on the height of unleashing their nefarious acts.
Before going to bed check the doors and windows properly otherwise the ‘night carpenters’ will seize advantage of vulnerabilities and strike.
When we go out to enjoy do so cautiously by avoiding binge drinking that will expose us to the wiles of ‘Jazebels’ who are always looking for the slightest opportunities to cunningly steal from men. This is real! Seemingly beautiful ladies are seen in public places, in bars and restaurants throwing baits with their curvy shapes only to trap men who out of intoxication will want to get sexual gratification. In the twinkle of an eye they will just disappear in thin air leaving their victims, who have been robbed, high and dry. They are dangerous!
Drunk driving has landed many to their early graves especially during festive seasons. When one drinks responsibly then it is possible that one could drive carefully. Let’s think for a minute that life is sweet and therefore it is significant to always secure ourselves. Let not your happiness turn out to be sorrow.
If you do not know how to swim do not go near water. This piece of advice is going for beach goers. We are mindful of our lush beaches; fine places to relax and enjoy nature. But the rivers and sea have currents. Sometimes they can become very unfriendly and unaccommodating especially to those who do not know how to swim properly. If you are that person then refrain from doing so because it is not a play, play thing.
As we are now in the festive season let us celebrate with style and caution. Be cautious and Enjoy. May Common Sense Prevail!
