They shouted “a thief, a thief” and Odongo Bob was killed 

Kole | Odongo Bob, 32, was killed by a mob in Aboke, Kole district on Saturday. 

A Police statement says he was a peasant and a resident of Acero village, Agulurude parish, Loro sub-county in Oyam district.

The North Kyoga Region Police PRO, SP Jimmy Patrick Okema said at the weekend that the territorial Police in Kole district were investigating a suspected murder by a mob.

The crime, he said, occurred on April 6, 2024, at around 3:00 am at Corner Alyat Trading Centre in Aboke Town Council.

“This report was registered by Alwala Denis, 40 years old, Lango by tribe, area LC1 chairperson of Acero A cell, Aweingwec ward, Aboke town council in Kole district,” SP Okema said.

He added that it is alleged that on April 6, 2024, at around 3:00 am, the residents of Corner Alyat Trading Centre heard an alarm being made outside saying a thief, a thief and people were beating that suspected thief.

The suspected thief was later identified as Odongo Bob, 32, from Oyam district.

The area councillor Obonyo Alex came outside and found a dead body lying along the road with multiple injuries on the body and called LC 1 Alwala Denis who reported the incident at Corner Molem Police Post at 7:00 am, he added.

Also read: Kole: 24-year-old Police officer held over murder

A case of murder by the mob was registered at the Corner Molem Police Post, the PRO stated in a statement.

“Statements were recorded from relevant witnesses. The exhibit of a hoofer which was suspected to have been stolen by the deceased was recovered from the crime scene.

“Postmortem was conducted from the crime scene and the body was handed over to the relatives for burial.

“As Police, we strongly condemn this barbaric killing. Instead, we encourage the community members to always apprehend suspected thieves, hand them to the Police and support investigations such that he or she faces the court of law on allegations…”

This is the second time someone from Oyam has been murdered in Kole for stealing.

Also read: ‘Oyam-born’ petty thief killed in Kole mob justice 

Currently, Lango sub-region is witnessing a high rate of murder cases, with figures since the start of the year “shocking”.