Three suspected cattle raiders have been gunned down and their bodies abandoned in lodera 1 village, North division in Kotido municipality. The raiders were killed in a gunfire exchange with the security forces Friday afternoon.
The deceased warriors have been identified as Loyo Anguriakori, Lokol, and Amuyo, all residents of Kacheri sub county in Kotido district. It’s alleged that the trio, who were armed had gone to meet a friend in Lodera 1 village to plan a raiding mission. The concerned resident immediately notified security forces, which swung into action and cordoned off the area leading to a serious exchange of fire.
Sean Paul Atanya, the LC 3 chairperson of North division told URN that the community members abandoned the warrior’s bodies as they fled the village. Atanya says since the incident happened, no one has returned back to the village since people are scared of what transpired. According to Atanya, after the fight that lasted for almost an hour, the soldiers left with the firearm they recovered from the warriors leaving behind the deceased’s bodies.
Lokoel Apatuko, the LC1 chairperson of Lodera 1 village, said that the deceased have been visiting their friends in his village but he never thought that they were wrong elements. Lokoel says the incident took him by surprise since he started hearing gunshots around his jurisdiction without any clear information until when the raiders were killed.
John Bosco Akore, the secretary of the Kotido Elders council described the deceased as the most notorious warriors who have been terrorizing people and killing the peace committee members. Akore said the deceased had a list of leaders they wanted to kill, forcing one of the peace committee chairperson to abandon his home to seek security outside karamoja. ‘’I’m happy that those warriors have been killed, they are notorious, we tried engaging them for peace but they never listened to us’’ he reiterated.
Akore added that the raiders are no longer respecting elders but instead they have gained all the powers to command and act anything as per their interest.
Maj. Isaac Oware, the 3rd division UPDF spokesperson told URN that he was yet to receive information regarding the matter when contacted on phone.
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