The Algerian gendarmerie has concluded its investigation into the 2016 murder of Nihal Si Mohand, a young girl from Aït Toudert, and transferred the case to judicial authorities. Colonel Harkati Rachid, commander of the Tizi-Ouzou gendarmerie group, announced this during a press conference at the group's headquarters. He stated that the gendarmerie's mission has ended, and the case is now in the hands of judicial authorities.
The investigation, which lasted two years, was a challenging and complex process. Colonel Harkati Rachid noted that the gendarmerie's efforts have been focused on gathering evidence and identifying suspects. The case has garnered significant attention in Algeria, and the authorities have faced pressure to bring the perpetrators to justice. The judicial authorities will now take over the case and continue the investigation.
In addition to the Nihal Si Mohand case, Colonel Harkati Rachid discussed the overall security situation in Tizi-Ouzou. He reported that the gendarmerie's coverage of the wilaya has improved, with 27 brigades operating across 67 communes. Two new brigades were opened in 2018 in Mizrana and Mekla, and seven more are under construction, with a progress rate of 60-80%.
The gendarmerie has also seen a decrease in crime rates in Tizi-Ouzou. Colonel Harkati Rachid attributed this to the cooperation of citizens with the gendarmerie and targeted efforts to secure high-risk areas. In 2018, the gendarmerie handled 1,294 cases, a 6.9% decrease compared to 2017. The authorities have also intensified their efforts to combat road accidents, which have decreased by 49.81% compared to the previous year.
Road accidents remain a concern in Tizi-Ouzou, with 136 incidents reported in 2018, resulting in 56 deaths and 219 injuries. The gendarmerie attributes 97.05% of these accidents to human error. To address this issue, the authorities have developed a booklet highlighting black spots and hazardous roads in the wilaya, which has been transmitted to the administration.
The gendarmerie has also made progress in combating irregular migration, known as "Haraga." In 2018, four cases were registered, involving two individuals, down from six cases in 2017. Furthermore, the gendarmerie has recovered 3,319 hunting rifles, a significant number of weapons seized from civilians.
Colonel Harkati Rachid emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between citizens and the gendarmerie to maintain security in Tizi-Ouzou. He also stressed the need for awareness-raising campaigns to prevent road accidents and other crimes. The judicial authorities will now take over the Nihal Si Mohand case, and the gendarmerie will continue to provide support as needed.
Key points
- The Algerian gendarmerie has concluded its investigation into the 2016 murder of Nihal Si Mohand and transferred the case to judicial authorities.
- The gendarmerie has seen a decrease in crime rates in Tizi-Ouzou, with a 6.9% decrease in cases handled in 2018 compared to 2017.
- The authorities have intensified efforts to combat irregular migration and recovered 3,319 hunting rifles from civilians.
