EX-REBEL ARRESTED FOR ROBBING KOBOKO RESIDENTS
His arrest followed a tip-off from concerned citizens.
By Moses Alinda
KOBOKO: Police in West Nile have arrested the former National Army for Salvation (NAS) rebel who has been staging armed robberies in West Division and neighboring Midia sub-county in Koboko Municipality.
The West Nile Region Police Spokesperson Josephine Angucia identified the suspect as Thomas Vita, alias Kurenge 30, a resident of Wakile village, Ayipe parish, Kuluba Subcounty, Koboko district, but with origins in South Sudan.
Angucia told this publication that his arrest followed a tip-off from concerned citizens.
She says that security conducted more intelligence-led operations on April 26, 2023, which resulted in the arrest of Vita, who happens to be one of the members of a criminal gang that has been staging armed robberies.
The regional police mouthpiece asserted that following the arrest of the first two suspects identified as Sunday Moses Michael alias Rasta and Abuyi Ramusa on April 24, 2023, which resulted in the recovery of two Rifles, security continued tracking Thomas Vita, who was identified as the leader of the criminal gang that has been robbing the community.
Angucia disclosed that on interrogation, Thomas Vita revealed that he is a former NAS (National Army for Salvation) rebel from South Sudan who defected and crossed into Uganda with two rifles.
The police officer explained that the suspect hid the rifles in a bush at Kagoropa village, Ayipe parish, Kuluba Subcounty, Koboko district, during the month of February 2023 and later turned them into survival tools.
The arrest of Thomas Vita brings the number of suspects so far arrested in the gang to three.
As investigations unfolded more facts on the matter, Angucia appealed to the general public to continue sharing more information with the police and other sister security forces so as to arrest such criminals and recover guns that could still be in the hands of wrongdoers illegally.
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