Residents of Aminata east village in Aminata parish Abim district have accused the local defence unit person deployed in Abim for allegedlly torturing and extorting money from residents using the cover of implementing presidential directives on curfew.
Gilbert Owili a defence Secretary of Aminata village said that on Saturday the Local Defence Unit personel attached to Arembwala LDU detach went without their commander and attacked fourr boys who were sitting in the village, beat them up and extorted 37,000 Shillings from each victim.
He said the LDUs claimed the four boys had broken the presidential directive on Covid-19 by staying together.
“They were four LDUs all armed at around 3pm when they got these four boys just sitting without even drinking anything, these LDUs started threatening these boys randomly and one boy called Opio Godfrey is badly injured,” he said.
Mr Owilli said Mr.Godfrey Opio who’s badly injured is currently in Abim Hospital where he is receiving treatment.
Mr.Owili named the four who were beaten as Samson Okello, Calement Obonyo, Godfrey Opio, and Calvin Ongom, all residents of Aminata village.
He said his effort to intervene as a local leader fell on deaf ears of the frenzied LDUs.
Norah Akidi, another resident said the wild acts by LDUs in the district need to be addressed by the concerned authorities.
“These LDUs have become a security threat to our lives and we call upon the leaders to intervene,” she said.
Simon Ogira a parish councilor of Aminata village said many times the security personnel have neglected to deal with errant criminals in the district, something he said could be deliberate.
“We are wondering if leaders whether security personnel are part of these criminals’ activities because whenever we go and report to police nothing happens,” he said.
Livingston Twesaagye ,the district police commander of Abim, could not pick up our several calls for a comment.
Major Peter Mugisa the UPDF 3rd division spokperson when contacted said he was not aware of the incident saying he would cross check.
Mrs Proscovia Acham, the deputy resident commissioner of Abim district when contacted, said that a lot of crimes are being committed in Abim district and that her efforts to fight against criminals are being undermined by her bosses internal security officers.
“I have made several arrest of criminal’s with evidence but when they reach the police, my bosses order for the release of the criminal suspects, thus encouraging people to break the laws in Abim district,” he said.
Our efforts to get a comment from Ms Juliet Najuma Senkole the RDC Abim, were futile as she could not pick up our calls.
