Three Kenyans shot dead in botched cattle raids

NAPAK | CATTLE RAID | THREE SHOT DEAD

A Kenyan national, Etepar Telo, 26, is nursing bullet wounds sustained during a botched cattle raid in which three of his colleagues were shot dead in Napak district.

Telo is currently admitted at Matany Hospital in Napak, while the deceased have been identified as Akaru Lokuyo, 25, Lokoru Lomucuruzi, 23, and Etabo Ekale, 19.

The Mt Moroto Police spokesperson, Mike Longole, said all the deceased are Kenyan nationals (Turkanas) who succumbed to bullet wounds on January 9 in Loutakou village, Napak.

Longole revealed that security agencies have since recovered 557 firearms from criminals in the Karamoja region. Many of the firearms were recovered from cattle rustlers courtesy of the Usalama Kwa Wote disarmament operation in the region since July last year.

Longole, the guns were recovered by residents of the districts of Napak, Nabilatuk, Karenga, and Kabong.

According to the Police, the increase in gun crime in Karamoja has resulted in the deaths of over 50 people, the theft of livestock, and the theft of property worth millions of dollars.

Who are the perpetrators?

When President Yoweri Museveni, combed the region last year in a bid to restore peace, he learned that political leaders and clan heads are among the criminals behind the gun trade, according to details contained in a security brief courtesy of a media statement from State House.

In the statement, the 3rd division Commander Big. Gen. Joseph Balikuddembe said; "Political and clan leaders in Karamoja are engaged in the business of selling guns to facilitate cattle rustling."

Balikuddembe also pinned them (political and clan leaders) on blocking justice to prevail hence hindering efforts by the government to pacify the region.

A July 2021 copy of a security report linked the insecurity in Karamoja to 45 firearms allegedly stolen by over 200 prison escapees in the region in 2020. 

According to the document, Local Defense Unit (LDU) personnel are the main perpetrators of raids and selling ammunition to raiders in the region. 

The details that emerged from the Joint Security Forces committee that met to discuss insecurity indicated that: the raids and murders by shooting mostly affected Ngoleriet, Kangole town council, Lopeei, Lotome, Lokopo, and Apeitolim sub-counties in Napak. Rupa, Nadunget and Lotisan in Moroto. 

Sources privy to the meeting said, from December to date, Mt Moroto region has experienced high cases of cattle rustling which has culminated in a high rate of murder by shooting orchestrated by Karamojong warriors. 

“They move in large numbers ranging from 100-200 armed with SMG assault rifles, bow, and arrows,” the report said. 

Several measures were put in place to intensify both foot and motorized patrols in the inner ring and ambushes in the outer ring. 

The use of K9 dogs, all animals to be in protected kraals (unfortunately securing animals has given owners time to go for raids), engagement of leaders both incoming and outgoing, youth, elders (karacunas) to embrace peace initiatives, strengthen Joint intelligence for both UPDF and Police, 24/7 alertness of all forces and quick response to incidences whenever called upon.