At least six motorcyclists were on Tuesday stripped naked and robbed of all their belongings by armed bandits who ambushed them along the Ikotos-Tseretenya border post road, local authorities said.
The road which leads to Uganda and is a major trade and supply route has witnessed several fatal ambushes in the last three months.
The Ikotos County executive director, Caesar Ingong, said the six motorcyclists were taking goods for sale to Ikotos town when they were robbed.
“This incident happened at around 3 pm in a place called Longole in Ramula Boma on Tuesday when some boys riding motorbikes from Tseretenya with goods for sale were stripped naked and all their belongings were taken,” he explained. “The victims are youth aged 17 and below.”
Ingong said the criminals were cattle raiders who had failed in their mission and later ambushed the riders.
“These people were in a group and were on a mission to raid cattle but failed and ended up robbing these sic boys of their goods and the matter has been reported to the police,” he said.
Meanwhile, Joseph Lokolong Jenisio, the commissioner of Ikotos County, confirmed the incident and said security forces have been tasked to investigate the matter and arrest the perpetrators.
“I got the report yesterday (Wednesday) and a case has been filed and even the perpetrators have been identified to be from Logir,” he said. “These are the people who took the properties of these Boda-bodas (motorcyclists). The report reached the county headquarters late but I told the investigation committee to get statements from the victims.”
However, the former executive director in the defunct Kidepo Valley, Titot Abas, denied the involvement of Logir youth in the incident.
“Peace conferences were held and people were warned that nobody should rob and people are now free and women even move freely,” he said. “This issue was discussed and several warnings were issued and people talked and soon people are going to perform rituals for peace among other things so I do not think this issue is true.”
On 8 August, two humanitarian workers, Henry Loro working for Caritas Luxemburg and a water hygiene promoter identified as Oromo, were shot dead and one teacher was injured in a road ambush in Ikotos County.