Armed robbery attack in Arua City leaves one injured and 50 million shillings stolen

By Godwin Abedican

Arua
The territorial police of Arua central division is investigating an incident of aggravated robbery in Arua city which occurred on the night of 25th of February 2023 under file number Arua CRB181/2023 in which some staff of Abiriga and sons a business located along Rhino camp road were attacked by armed robbers.
The incident that left one identified as Abiriga muhamad Hassan allegedly happened after he left the work place at around 8 Pm together with his workmates while the money was in a back bag placed in the vehicle he was driving.

According to information from the police, before reaching air japan trading center, he dropped one of the workmates and proceeded with the other up to Air Japan trading center to pick up his mother from her shop. It is said that immediately he opened the driver’s door to come out, two men on a numberless motorcycle arrived and opened the co-driver’s door and picked the money in the bag from the car.

According to ASP Josephine Angucia, West Nile region police spokesperson, there was a scuffle in the process before the gunshots started “Upon realizing what was happening, they tried to struggle with the robbers but the man who was armed started shooting at Abiriga Muhammad as they were escaping with the money. Six bullets were shot at the scene and this ended up injuring Abiriga Muhamad on the shoulder and as they were escaping they were shooting towards Madi cell,” Angucia narrated. According to Angucia there are no arrests made yet following the incident and the police is still searching for the suspects after they escaped to un identified pace as they police and army tried to follow them up after the incident, even though there were statements recorded at the police by the father of the victim identified as Abiriga Hassan. She cautions the public against moving with large sums of money especially people doing business. “Of recent we have not been having such kinds of aggravated robbery using guns. It is as incident that has taken people by surprise. This should therefore be a caution to all of us that we may not be safe we could still be having people who are holding illegal guns hiding in the communities. We urge members of the public to expose such people who could be armed illegally with weapons to the security team or area Local Councils (LCs) so that they can be arrested and the guns can be removed from their hands,” Angucia Urged.

Following the incident the victim was rushed to Arua regional referral hospital, statements were recorded from the father of the victim identified as Abiriga Hassan while the victim’s motor vehicle with registration number UBB 764 S, silver in color was towed to Arua city division together with the numberless motorcycle that was used for the robbery.