Bomb scare at Lira market

Apr 18, 2016

Some of the vendors suspected that it could be the work of some business people who were being forced by the municipal authority to leave roadside lockups and relocate to the main market

Bonney Odongo and Winnie Prisca Aceng
 
Lira market vendors Monday morning were sent scampering for life following the discovery of four suspected bombs.
 
According to witnesses, two of the items that resembled a bomb were reportedly found under a stool in the market while two others were at the entrance of the market.

According to a military source that preferred anonymity, the suspected bombs were dangerously and strategically placed in such a way that if they exploded inside the market, the two at the gate would then go and hit vendors scampering out for safety.

Lira Resident District Commissioner, Emmanuel Mwaka Lutukumoi said the suspected bombs were removed by military experts from the 403rd brigade, Lira and taken to the military barracks for scrutiny.

 olice officers study suspected bombs laid in water channel at the entrance of ira main market y onney dongo Police officers study suspected bombs laid in water channel at the entrance of Lira main market. (By Bonney Odongo)

 

The market was then cordoned off and vendors asked to vacate.

Lutukumoi blamed this on sluggish Lira Municipal Council authorities who do not deploy law enforcement officers to handle public safety.  

Lira main market accommodates over 2000 vendors but there is no security check at the entrance and everyone who enters there does so without being checked.

Some of the vendors suspected that it could be the work of some business people who were being forced by the municipal authority to leave roadside lockups and relocate to the main market.

 olice officers study suspected bombs laid in water channel at the entrance of ira main market y onney dongo Police officers study suspected bombs laid in water channel at the entrance of Lira main market. (By Bonney Odongo)

 

"Since the market was opened, there are some people who have decided to abandon their market stalls and decided to continue with their business outside the market. I am therefore having suspicion that they could be people behind this," said Stella Otile who sells fish in the market.

Efforts to reach Manshur Suwed, the central North Police Spokesperson for comments were futile as he was out in Oyam on official duty.

 security officer emerges from a trench after retrieving what appeared like a suspected bomb see red bucket infron of the main market A security officer emerges from a trench after retrieving what appeared like a suspected bomb (see red bucket) infron of the main market.

 

Off recent, there has been serious insecurity in the town. Just last week, software Engineer Identified as Phinehas Otile William, 28, an employee with Zoom telecom was found murdered near his residence on Juba Road.



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