Thugs attack Lira Town again, take off with cash

Lira Municipality MP Jimmy Akena addressing Lira Town traders over security concerns on Monday. Despite the meeting, thugs raided the area again on Wednesday. PHOTO BY HUDSON APUNYO

What you need to know:

Thugs strike at a time the area is gripped with fear, following an increase in killings and armed robberies.

Lira- Days after traders in Lira Town shut down their shops demonstrating against the deteriorating security situation in the area, armed thugs on Wednesday evening made another raid on a supermarket in the heart of the town and made off with unspecified amount of money.

The thugs, each reportedly armed with an AK47 assault rifle, arrived at One Stop Supermarket at around 8:45pm and disarmed the security guard. They then forced him into a customer’s vehicle, which had just arrived, and put the two at gun point.

Witnesses said another security guard, Vincent Tukei, on the opposite side of the road tried to shoot the thugs but he was shot and died yesterday at Lira hospital where he was admitted.
Mr Zahir Bardai, 29, a cashier at the supermarket, said when he heard gun shots outside the facility, he together with other sales persons fled behind the shelves and the thugs entered and helped themselves to the day’s sales. He could not tell the exact amount of money taken.

The thugs then abandoned the gun of the security guard at the scene and fled in the vehicle.
Police arrived at the scene one hour later and tried to follow the thugs but in vain.
The owner of the supermarket only identified as Mr Ongwec, said when he went to the police station, he found no officer on duty.

Efforts to get a comment from the police were futile.