Agago police have launched a manhunt for armed suspected thugs accused of shooting at mobile money and business operators and robbing them of money in two separate attacks within one week.
The latest incident occurred on Tuesday night at around 9:00 pm at Otumpili trading center where two unidentified thugs armed with a submachine gun attacked a shopkeeper before robbing them of Shillings 1.8 million.
The Deputy OC CID at Patongo CPS, Kevin Olweny Too-Paco identifies the victims as Bosco Okello, a shop operator, and Charles Komakech, all residents of Lajwa village in Otumpili parish in Ajali Sub County.
According to Olweny, the assailants who disguised themselves as customers put their victims at gunpoint and later fired three live bullets that injured their targets and robbed them before fleeing into the neighborhood. Komakech sustained injuries on the shoulder while Bosco Okello was injured on the right leg. The two are hospitalised at Dr. Ambrosoli Hospital, Kalongo.
On August 18th, 2022, an unidentified thug also robbed George Okello, a produce dealer who also operates a mobile outlet in Oporot village in Patongo town council, and robbed him of cash as he was planning to close his shop at around 9:30 pm.
The assailant reportedly fired three live bullets in an attempt to scare residents before robbing his victim Shillings of 1.2 million at gunpoint. The attacks have thrown mobile Money agents in Agago district into a panic. They have called on security to intervene in tracking down the armed suspected robbers.
The Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson, David Ongom Mudong regrets the attacks, saying that no arrests have been made yet. He says that they are investigating aggravated robberies in both incidents and calls on mobile money and business operators in the meantime to explore strict safety measures including closing their operations earlier to avoid similar attacks.URN
