Graduate killed in botched highway robbery

By Joseph Ekol in Lira

POLICE in Otuke have detained three suspects in connection with an armed highway robbery which occurred along Otuke-Abim highway over the weekend.

The Resident District Commissioner, Robert Abak, confirmed the arrest of the prime suspect identified as Kashim Omara a 39-year-old. 

Abak said they arrested the suspect during a joint security operation mounted by the police and UPDF attached to Otuke and Abim districts.

Others in police custody are: Nashuru Ewak and Yosuf Odyek, all residents of Bombe village, Kamdini Sub County in Oyam district who were found in the company of Omara.  

The arrest was conducted following a deadly accident that took place on Saturday at around 1:00am at Akadodek village, Olilim Sub County in Otuke district in which Joel Ayen Okello, a law graduate of Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU) was killed.  

An unknown gunman dressed on a brown jacket and white gumboots tied a rope across the road.

Ayen who was travelling to Abim town in a Toyota Noah UAN 855Q was struck by a bullet to his chest after the assailant opened fire on the occupants of the car which failed to stop.

Before killing Ayen, the assailants reportedly stopped a Uganda Police truck belonging to Abim police station, held driver at gunpoint and later ordered him to proceed after inspecting the vehicle for about ten minutes.

North Kyoga regional police commander,  Richard Aruk Maruk, pledged to conduct a satisfactory investigation that may lead to the perpetrators being convicted.

“We have recovered the items like the Senke motorcycle number UDW 823F, the brown jacket and the gumboots which were seen at the scene” he noted.