Arrow boys kill LRA commander
Oct 09, 2003
THE Arrow Group militia in Soroti yesterday killed four Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels including their commander identified as ‘Capt’ Rico Louno
By Richard Otim and Job Opolot
THE Arrow Group militia in Soroti yesterday killed four Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels including their commander identified as ‘Capt’ Rico Louno. The rebels killed 11 civilians and injured 15.
Over 300 rebels attacked an Arrow Group detachment at Odudui, 12km north of Soroti town, in the morning.
Louno’s charred body with well-knit dreadlocks was displayed to the public in the town.
The Arrow Group co-ordinator, Musa Ecweru, said the rebels burnt part of the militia’s defence. He said the militia was out-numbered by the rebels, adding that it was still unsafe for journalists to visit the detachment.
He said four militia fighters were still missing, while 10 of them were taken to Soroti Hospital with injuries.
Ecweru said they recovered a blue rosary and documents which bore Louno’s names.
“The rebels, who are trying to stage a come-back, also hit at one of the houses with a rocket-propelled grenade,†he said.
Stella Akwi, whose husband was killed during the attack, said the rebels dragged her husband out of their house and battered him to death with a metal.
The New Vision counted seven bodies in the surrounding area. All the victims had their heads smashed. The rest died in hospital.
The rebels reportedly split into two groups, one engaged the Arrow militia, the other raided the neighbourhood. The rebels are said to have fled towards Lira following the railway.
An Arrow fighter, who claimed to have shot Louna dead, said after killing him, a female rebel exclaimed in Acholi, “Oneko afande’ (the commander has been killed).
THE Arrow Group militia in Soroti yesterday killed four Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels including their commander identified as ‘Capt’ Rico Louno. The rebels killed 11 civilians and injured 15.
Over 300 rebels attacked an Arrow Group detachment at Odudui, 12km north of Soroti town, in the morning.
Louno’s charred body with well-knit dreadlocks was displayed to the public in the town.
The Arrow Group co-ordinator, Musa Ecweru, said the rebels burnt part of the militia’s defence. He said the militia was out-numbered by the rebels, adding that it was still unsafe for journalists to visit the detachment.
He said four militia fighters were still missing, while 10 of them were taken to Soroti Hospital with injuries.
Ecweru said they recovered a blue rosary and documents which bore Louno’s names.
“The rebels, who are trying to stage a come-back, also hit at one of the houses with a rocket-propelled grenade,†he said.
Stella Akwi, whose husband was killed during the attack, said the rebels dragged her husband out of their house and battered him to death with a metal.
The New Vision counted seven bodies in the surrounding area. All the victims had their heads smashed. The rest died in hospital.
The rebels reportedly split into two groups, one engaged the Arrow militia, the other raided the neighbourhood. The rebels are said to have fled towards Lira following the railway.
An Arrow fighter, who claimed to have shot Louna dead, said after killing him, a female rebel exclaimed in Acholi, “Oneko afande’ (the commander has been killed).