Police officer, school director charged over Soroti pupil murder
The suspects, who were delivered to court in two police patrol vehicles under tight security, appeared jolly and smiled at the people taking their pictures in court.
Police leading Ariokot and other suspects to court where they were charged with murder of Jozan nursery and primary school Joan Faith Apio. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)
Godfrey Ojore
Journalist @New Vision
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A police officer attached to Soroti East Division, John Bosco Obotol, 34, is among the seven people charged with murder and remanded to prison, as heard by the Grade One court magistrate, Apollo Kibirige, on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
Joseph Okedi, 43, the school director of Jozan Nursery and Primary School; his wife Suzan Vivian Ariokot, 38; James Edoket, 32, the school headmaster; Valentin Opio, 37, the school cook; and two minors, including Okedi’s daughter, were charged with the murder of Joan Faith Apio, 5.
The accused, who were remanded until March 6, 2025, were not allowed to speak in court as it has no jurisdiction over capital offences.
“On February 5, 2025, at Jozan Nursery and Primary School in East Division, Soroti City, with malice aforethought, and unlawfully caused the death of Joan Faith Apio,” the charge read in part.
The suspects, who were delivered to court in two police patrol vehicles under tight security, appeared jolly and smiled at the people taking their pictures in court.
Okedi and Obotol in the dock as Ariokot stands behind in the dock. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)
Ariokot was dressed in an African print kitenge, while her husband wore a rosary, a blue T-shirt, black jeans, and open shoes.
“Just pray for us, we have not killed anybody,” Okedi was heard telling a relative in court as he was led to the courtroom.
Emmanuel Bawesigye, the state attorney, told the court that the investigations into the matter were not complete.
During the requiem mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Soroti on Sunday, Resident City Commissioner Peter Pex Paak revealed that Apio was murdered for sacrifice.
“The investigating detectives, comprising the police and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), were instructed to examine three areas: possible sacrifice, possible rivalry and sabotage, or family wrangles,” Paak said.
“We confirmed that it was a sacrifice! We are still looking for one person who was standing at the fence who received the blood of Apio in a black polythene bag!” Paak said to the shock of mourners.
During Apio’s burial on Monday in Ateuso village, Aminito parish, Akoromit sub-county, Kapelebyong district, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding, told mourners that Apio was slaughtered by a woman.
“During our investigations, we wanted to establish who exactly killed Apio; however, according to our shocking findings, Apio was slaughtered by a woman!” Gen. Okiding said, evoking strong feelings of anger among the mourners.
“A woman who knows the pain of giving birth to a child shamelessly slaughtered Apio! Our innocent daughter was killed as a sacrifice for riches!” Gen. Okiding said as he wept.