Mob kills cyclist for knocking dead South Sudanese refugee

Moyo District Police Commander, Mr Stephen Agaba. FILE PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • The Resident District Commissioner, Swaib Toko, said the refugee died on spot while the motorcyclist died on the way to a health facility.

A mob over the weekend killed a boda-boda rider, who allegedly knocked dead a South Sudanese juvenile at Morobi Zone II at Palorinya Refugee Settlement in Itula Sub County in Moyo District.
After the incident, locals and some refugees in the camp descended on the suspect, Seraji Babu, 19, a resident of Rodo village in Itula Sub-county and killed him in revenge. The District Police Commander, Mr Stephen Agaba, said: “The victim was riding a motorcycle registration number UEO 260X Bajaj red boxer and knocked dead an unidentified juvenile of about 13 years of age.”

He said the case was reported and a file opened at Morobi police post.
“The incident happened at 6:59 Pm. The motorist was speeding in the highly populated settlement camp,” Agaba said.
Speaking to Daily Monitor, Mr Holmes Ovike, the general secretary for Moyo Boda-Boda Association condemned the mob action against one of their members.

“The killing of our member is uncalled for and we cannot see such action happen again to our members. We urge the police to investigate this matter thoroughly,” Ovike said.
The Resident District Commissioner, Swaib Toko, said the refugee died on spot while the motorcyclist died on the way to a health facility.

“It has created tension but we are managing it so that we do not see further deaths of such nature. People should stop taking the law into their hands. It is better to report cases of such nature to the relevant authorities,” Toko said.
He noted that the rider had no intention of killing the Juvenile. Toko said the police calmed the situation which was turning chaotic.
“We have scheduled a dialogue meeting with various stakeholders including the implementing partners this week so that such issues are addressed without causing more harm,” Toko said.