A UPDF soldier has been confirmed dead while five other security officers sustained critical injuries following the fierce shootout with unknown gunmen who attempted to raid Gulu Central Police station on Sunday evening.
Three of the injured officers are UPDF soldiers attached to the 4th Division Infantry barracks while two are Police officers.
The deceased UPDF soldier was identified as Cpl Moses Edema.
Police identified their own as ASP Masaba Moses who has been admitted in critical condition at St Mary’s Hospital Lacor Intensive care Unit ward and Police Constable Sunday Atimango who was shot in the abdomen.
The army refused to disclose identities of their injured personnel but noted they are receiving treatment at the at the 4th Division Infantry Headquarters military Hospital in Gulu town.
Aswa Regional Deputy Police Commander Azata Ziku while addressing the press on Monday confirmed that the police and the army suffered causality as result of the attack by the unknown gunmen.
Mr Aziku maintained that the attackers had motives of rescuing one of their colleagues who was being detained at the Police cells.
He however didn’t disclose the name of the suspect the attacker wanted to rescue but Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga said that the attackers wanted to rescue UPC’s National Deputy Mobilizer Dan Oola Odiya.
Mr Odiya who is also UPC spokesperson for Acholi Sub-region was reportedly abducted last week evening at about 8 pm along coronation road in Gulu Municipality as he headed home by unknown gunmen.
Aziku however dismissed allegations that Police ignored intelligence reports of an eminent attack at the Police station, saying they had their own intelligence reports that enabled them to repulse the gunmen and seize their guns and vehicles.
He claimed that they managed to recover cache of ammunition from the gunmen that included Five SMGs, 1PK gun, 1SAR gun, a sophisticated bow and arrows (Factory made) and 24 magazines with.
The police said they are yet to verify whether some of the guns recovered could have been those seized from Opit UPDF detach raided by armed men last month.
No arrest made
Mr Aziku also said that the Police and the army failed to make any arrest in connection to the attack as the gunmen fled off but added that security is pursuing the suspects.
When asked whether the attackers could be related to a rebel group, political affiliation or just thugs, Aziku explained that it was too early to divulge information stating that the police and the army are still carrying investigations.
According to Mr Aziku, Mr Odiya who was due to be arraigned in court today (Monday) by press time was not taken to court saying investigations on the case are incomplete.
Fourth Division Army Commander Brig Kayanja Muhanga, however while addressing Gulu residents on a local radio station following the raid said security personnel have identities of all the attackers.
“We already have one of their leaders in our custody we know all of them and we have their details, but we cannot reveal it at the moment because it will jeopardize ongoing investigations,” Brig Kayanja said.
Brig Kayanja noted that they also received intelligence reports that the attackers are receiving backing from outside the country to cause instability in northern Uganda.
The 4th Division commander said residents in Gulu and northern Uganda should not panic.
Vehicle Abandoned
Two vehicles alleged by the police to have been abandoned by the gunmen were by press time still packed at Gulu Central Police station.
Three motorcycles alleged to have been abandoned by the gunmen where however not shown to the press and security officials refused to divulge more on it.
Gulu District one of the seven districts that forms Acholi sub region is still recovering from the two decade Lord’s Resistance Army insurgencies that saw close to 1.5 million people displaced while tens of thousands killed.
2 Comments
What is so special about Acoli to become a fighting ground for wars not serving the local people and area? Acoli people do not want government or trying to solve political disputes through wars and military violence.
Propaganda propaganda propaganda. Stop creating war in Acholi land for your profit. Acholi people are tired of the dirty war created and wedged on them since independence. Fake charcoal burners should be combed off Acholi land. Vehicles and motobikes are being stollen in the city and the owners killed. Acholi people are being kidnapped by unknown gunmen why? If someone has done wrong or is suspected to have done crime, why can’t law arrest them in full uniform and at day time? Why kidnap them at night? Now thugs are copying the unprofessional behaviour. To the Northerners if some stupid rebel want to start war in your land please resist and expose them we are tired of WARRRRRR and instability. Acholi people want development now and stop this gravely dirty political games