Pabbo Ambush Toll Rises To 4, Odama Laments

THE Pabbo bus ambush death toll has gone up to four, with four of the 22 people injured admitted in critical condition at St. Mary’s Hospital, Lacor, reports Dennis Ojwee and Caroline Lamwaka. The ambush spot is 400 metres from Pabbo Protected Camp, about 200 metres off the Jeng-garo UPDF army detachment. Thirty armed men are suspected to have carried out the ambush, 24 kilometers on the Gulu-Adjumani road in Kilak. The dead were identified as Zachary Drago Waiga, Richard Opiyo, Benson Opiyo, former camp commandant of Adjumani refugee camp, and a woman, identified only as Nabwami, 22, from Kampala. The bodies of Nabwami and Charles Opiyo were still lying at Pabbo dispensary. A health worker, Moses Odongwara, said Opiyo and Nabwami died soon after admission. Health workers at Pabbo dispensary identified those injured as Fred Bongomin, 23, of Gulu town, Patrick Acaye, 25, of Adjumni, Michael Okello, 35, of Moyo, Clement Okello, 19, of Adjumani, James Abonga from Parajok in Sudan, Abbey Hajji Makuba, 47, of Kampala, William Opira and Lilly Atenyo, 7. Others are Wacid Oziti, 47, of Moyo and Sabina Amabira, 22, of Moyo. Godfrey Mugisha from Arua and Bongomin Fred were transferred to Lacor Hospital, Gulu. Those injured, treated and discharged included Bashir Zuntuir, 28, of Adjumani, Lilly Acan, 23, of Kabedo-Opong-Gulu, Yeko Ogole, 45, of Anai in Lira, Kairo Angella, 33, of Adjumani, Rose Laker, 25, of Labala parish-Pabbo. In critical condition at Lacor are Kennedy Odur, 15, of Moyo, a P.7 pupil at Obanga-ngeyo P.7 School, Mandela Joyce, 26, with her one-year-old son Vincent Mandela, Isaac Amuda, 42, of Moyo and Noah Muhamed, 30, of Adjumani district. Meanwhile, John Baptist Odama, the Archbishop of Gulu, has condemned the ambush. In a press statement issued yesterday, Odama lamented that the crime is taking place at a time when there are high expectations for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Acholi. “On behalf of the entire Christian community of Acholiland, I condemn the murderous attack on a Moyo-bound bus near Pabbo,” he said. Odama said such killings in broad daylight and very close to a military installation, raises serious questions about the people’s protection. Ends