Quick Facts
- Security authorities believed that they were likely taken to Liwolo Payam in greater Kajo-Keji County of South Sudan
- The porous borders between Yumbe and South Sudan create a volatile situation for armed men to infiltrate the villages and carry out havoc
- The lawlessness in the two large neighbouring counties of South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo has according to officials imposed on West Nile the burden of insecurity due to proliferation of small arms and light weapons
By Metedio Iceta
Yumbe- Unknown gunmen from South Sudan have abducted three locals from Yumbe district in the North Western district of Uganda.
The locals were abducted from Maru village in Goboro parish, Yumbe district. The incident, according to the Parish Chief of Goboro, Mr Abale Swaib, occurred on Monday morning.
“The local community informed me that suspected gunmen from South Sudan entered Maru village and abducted three people and this has created fear among the locals,” Abale said.
Already a search to rescue the abducted people is ongoing.
Mr Richard Andama, the Yumbe Resident District Commissioner confirmed to this newspaper and identified the victims as Modesto Abindu 55 years, Alex Azubile 25 and Leku Ndebo 45-year-old all residents of the same village.
“Every effort is being made to find those people who were abducted and bring them home through our intelligence network at border and South Sudan government.”
He said the gunmen collected cash worth 340.000 shillings and other items like 3 cartons of Soda, 4 Sackets of Salt, and 6 Mobile Phones.
“One of the victims identified as Alex Azubile was released to come and take 700.000 Shillings for facilitating the two remaining at the custody to be released.”
Col Gabriel Lam, the Deputy Military Spokesperson for SPLA IO speaking said the SPLA IO is training. “I believe those people are hungry but not our forces. We are going to investigate it and get details of those dealing with such characters and we would share information with Ugandan security regarding the matter because this kind of things whether it happens,” he added.
“As of now, we cannot do such things besides that we have enough food. We have been allowed to receive food from companies who are supposed to supply us food and so for some people to start robbing in the names of SPLA IO is not right.”
Maj Kennedy Rogocy, the sector intelligence officer for West Nile region, said: “At least they have released one and they promised to release others and I don’t know whether they have released them on Tuesday evening much as they promised to do so. We are on the ground and the situation is under control and such incidences are isolated cases, so we are capable of managing the situation so this is not out of hand.”
