12 arrested over mob justice in Busia

Police in Busia have arrested twelve men believed to have lynched a village mate to avenge the death of another resident.

The area District Police Commander Nelson Nahabwe confirmed the arrest and dentition of the suspects whom he said are residents of Busitema Sub County in Busia district.

Nahabwe said the arrest followed a mob justice incident in the area in which Simon Wafula was lynched by angry residents who accused him of being part of the group which reportedly killed Julius Wandera in a ritual murder on Saturday night.

Another area resident Stephen Musanda, accused by the residents of leading the group which killed Wandera, is nursing injuries having been rescued by police from the same mob which killed Wafula.

The residents told New Vision that Wandera was last seen with Musanda on Saturday afternoon before being killed and his body placed on Tororo-Jinja Highway to appear as if he was hit by a speeding vehicle.

The killing of Wafula and Wandera brings the total number of people killed in Busia district to eight since March.

Musanda who is detained at Busia police station said the sub county chairperson Hajji Abdu Musana picked him from his home saying he was taking him to record a statement at the area police post but handed him over to the mob along the way.

He said Wafula was innocently killed because he had asked him to get for him a second hand motorcycle which he wanted to buy.

Following the increased murder cases in the district the Resident District Commissioner also chairperson security Kennedy Adhola Otiti and Nahabwe were criticized and condemned by the residents for failing to properly manage the security situation in the district.

The residents accused the police of not adequately investigating the eight cases saying that most of the suspects that were arrested had been released save for those who have been remanded.

Nahabwe appealed to residents to desist from mob justice and use peaceful means to solve problems in the community by reporting cases to police.

He urged the residents to be calm saying the situation was bad but noted that it was not out of hand and asked them to cooperate by giving the police information.

On his part Otiti said police should work jointly with other security agencies in the area to ensure that the rate of crime reduces.