Police arrest businesswoman, refugee for illegal possession of firearms
Some of the recovered illegal Items being exhibited at Koboko central police station. PHOTO | URN
What you need to know:
- Ms Josephine Angucia, the West Nile region police spokesperson, said the items seized include a pistol, an SMG rifle with 78 rounds of ammunition, a green plastic army bottle, and six MTN sim cards.
Police have arrested two people in Koboko District on charges of illegal possession of firearms.
The suspects who include a businesswoman from Nyelwa Village, Midia Sub County in Koboko District, and a South Sudanese refugee (man), were picked up on Wednesday during an intelligence-led operation conducted by a police, the GISO of Midia Sub County and Local Council leaders from the area.
Ms Josephine Angucia, the West Nile region police spokesperson, said the items seized include a pistol, an SMG rifle with 78 rounds of ammunition, a green plastic army bottle, and six MTN sim cards.
Ms Angucia explained that the exhibits were discovered in one of the rental rooms belonging to the businesswoman. The room had reportedly been rented by another runaway suspect, only identified as Ivan, who had stayed for two weeks before disappearing to an undisclosed location.
The suspects, along with the recovered items, are currently at Koboko Central Police Station while investigations into the matter continue.
Mr Brani Acikule, the LC3 chairperson of Midia Sub County, has urged residents to remain vigilant. He noted that some criminals take advantage of the peri-urban locations of the sub-county to seek refuge.
“A lot of evil people hide themselves within the municipality and they want to take cover in the villages, this has been a common practice for some time now,” he said.
This is not the first time police in Koboko District have recovered illegal firearms within the past six months. In April this year, they recovered two illegal guns and arrested two assailants suspected of terrorising residents in the recent past.
