Pupil shot by stray bullet as mob tried to lynch suspects

CRIME


Oyam - A 13- year-old pupil in Oyam has been rushed to St. Mary's Hospital Lacor in Gulu with bullet wounds which he sustained from a stray bullet during a scuffle as an angry mob tried to lynch three people suspected to have stolen a pig from to a one Secondina Alum.

Myene Sub County LC III Person, Patrick Olobo identified the victim as Maxwell Awele, a primary six pupil of Okule primary school. 

Olobo said the victim was hit on the knee by a stray bullet as a policeman and two crime preventers attempeted to calm a rowdy crowd.

This happened after the area chairman LC1 incarcerated the suspects in a grass thatched house, in an attempt to protect them from an angry mob, as he waited for the Police to arrive at the scene.

In retaliation, the mob then set the house ablaze, which fire spread to a nearby house, they also damaged two motorcycles, a bicycle, as well as injuring a cyclist.  

The Police officer who is suspected for shooting the pupil is being detained at Oyam Central Police Station for further investigation while the other three suspects, Denise Ojok, Ogwal Acan Ocwe and Ojok Ageto are being detained at Minakulu Police Station. 

Oyam District Police Commander, Victor Saasi Kule, said the mob was angered by the chairman LC1 after he tried he shield the suspects. In addition, the DPC said the Police officer will be charged with a rush and neglect act.

The issue of people taking matters into their hands to lynch suspects is very rampant in Lango sub region.

According to the annual police report of 2017, death by Mob Action was recorded at 603 in 2017 compared to 580 cases in 2016 with Oyam mentioned as one of the districts with high numbers.