Police Chiefs Arrested for Shooting Dead 13-year-old in COVID-19 Operation

By Francis Otucu

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Joshua Hasahya, No 54014 PC Denis Odongtoo, No 52746 PC Samuel Ojok and No 41923 PC Ocaya Wilfred Olak are in detention.

This, following an incident in which Calvin Omugeatum, 13, a pupil of Orwamuge Primary School and resident of Bartanga East Village, Orwamuge Parish, Orwamuge sub-county in Abim district was shot at by a stray bullet  in an operation to enforce presidential directives on COVID-19.

“They came across a group of over twenty people at the above named address at Alfred Obonyo’s home, violating the directive through merry-making, drinking and dancing and in a bid to bring them to book, they turned violent and chaotic. It is then that the said officers, in an attempt to disperse the said crowd, using riffle fire shot the victim,” a report on the shooting reads.  

Against the above background, the officers were arrested for rush and negligence.

The police say the scene has been visited and examined, exhibits recovered, postmortem carried out and that further inquiries are at hand Vide DEF/02/2020 of the Central Police Station, Abim.