Ten people were injured in a conflict between villagers and police in Loagri, Yagaba/Kubori constituency, North East region, over the arrest of a suspected motorcycle thief.
Tensions have risen following the event,
which was triggered by an increase in motorcycle thefts on market days.
He was pursued by bystanders and the owner
of the motorcycle and sought cover in a neighboring house. Residents became
enraged and wanted to see justice delivered as a result of this.
Residents requested entry as the house
owner shut the door to protect the suspect. Due to the market's regular theft
concerns, police arrived on the scene to seize the stolen motorcycle. The
outraged audience, however, resisted, fearing the culprit would escape justice.
As people and police battled, the situation deteriorated. An eyewitness testimony reveals bewilderment over the police's conduct, with locals wondering why the offender was not apprehended quickly. Residents became increasingly agitated as they felt their concerns were being disregarded.
The police, feeling the growing rage of the
mob, decided to disperse them by firing warning shots, prompting several
citizens to attack the cops with stones in response. As a result, the police
fired their weapons at them, wounding ten of them.
The suspected thief is presently in police custody, and the injured are being treated while an investigation continues
