Soroti residents blame “a lax police” for a spate of armed robberies

Residents of Soroti City have castigated the police over laxity after a wave of armed robberies hit the area, leaving them in palpable fear.

On Wednesday at around 8:30 pm Solomon Eluku, a resident of Kengere ward in Soroti City East operating Agent Banking services and his wife were robbed of millions of shillings by gunmen. That was the fifth armed robbery case in under three months.

They were riding on a motorcycle from work towards Kengere on Opiyai road. On arrival, as the wife disembarked, a man approached her asking for the bag she was carrying. Because he spoke in Kiswahili, the lady thought he was a security officer.

That was not the case. Within no time a second man appeared. That was when she realized they were thieves.

It was too late for her to do anything. As they were armed, she simply handed over her bag containing a large sum of money made from the day’s transactions.

The men immediately fled the scene. They also took with them her work equipment including four banking machines and mobile phones that she carried.

As they fled, the lady made an alarm forcing the gunmen to shoot in the air, but there was no immediate reaction from nearby security officers.

She reported the matter to police. East Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson Gregory Oscar Ageca said a case of aggravated robbery had been opened at Soroti City East Police Station.

That was only the latest in a spate of robberies. Residents have since complained that police is not doing enough to protect them and their property.

As a result some sensitive businesses such as those that involve carrying large sums of money, now close as early as 5 pm before darkness sets in.

Police said they would do all it takes to check the rampant robberies.