Alebtong—11, June 2020: There is panic within Alebtong district task force and the community after three Covid-19 alerts who were placed in institutional quarantine escaped on Tuesday night.
The trio escaped from Oteno Isolation Center on Tuesday night according to Mr Sam Kwenya, the Abia sub-county LC3 chairperson.
They have been identified as Emmnuel Okeng, a resident of Oyoo momto village, Abango Imany parish, Apala sub-county, Solomon Odyek and the third has been identified just as Ocen.
Mr Kwenya Sam says the community has been thrown into a state of anxiety following the escape of the trio. “There is a concern that they could cause community infection in case it turns out that they are positive of the novel coronavirus,” the local leader added.
“The district task force headed by the Resident District Commissioner [RDC] Josephine Omara Olili is to blame,” he told a section of Lango media outlets.
“The district task force is too responsible for all the mess. Oteno Isolation Center is not fenced, the windows are open with no shutters,” Mr Kwenya revealed.
He further revealed that the Isolation Center is poorly attended to, to the extent that those in quarantine are poorly fed.
The LC3 Chair added that the three male alerts also stole bed sheets and other property from the above isolation facility
When contacted, Ms Josephine Omara Olili, the embattled RDC of Alebtong said she was informed of the incident which she regretted and described as “unfortunate”.
“I have instructed my District Police Commander to go on the ground and ascertain circumstances that led to the escape of the three people from the Isolation Center,” RDC Olili said.
“I had a discussion with the District Health Officer [DHO] Dr Tony Odung on the same and for the purpose of carrying more investigations that can lead to the apprehension of the escapees,” she added.
This is not the first time that the laxity of the district task force has come under scrutiny.
About three weeks ago, LCIII chairpersons in Alebtong accused the RDC of mismanaging resources and donations from well wishes geared towards fighting Covid-19 disease.
Also read: Alebtong: Why Omara Olili days as RDC is decreasing
They claim that the RDC had denied them fuel and further alleged that Omara Olili was instead ferrying relief food meant for Alebtong to Otuke district where she is said to be harbouring political interest as woman MP in the 2021 elections.