Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson, Patrick Jimmy Okema disclosed that the victim’s mother revealed that the alleged kidnappers called and demanded 400,000 shillings to be sent to the victim’s contact before he is released.
ASP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa River Region Police Spokersperson - Photo by Dominic Ochola
Unknown assailants have allegedly kidnapped
a 16-year-old male juvenile in Elegu Town Council in Atiak Sub-County, Amuru
district.
The victim Kalanzi, a shop
attendant went missing on Sunday at around 10:00pm. Akim Kalanzi, 40, the
victim’s employer and a resident of Lorikowo West village in Elegu
Town Council reported the matter to Elegu Police Station.
Kalanzi reveals that he waited in vain for the victim to return home last night as usual. The victim’s mother called
the complainant at 7:30am on Monday informing him that she had received a phone
call from her son saying he was kidnapped and being kept as undisclosed
location.
Aswa River Region Police
Spokesperson, Patrick Jimmy Okema disclosed that the victim’s mother revealed that the alleged kidnappers called and demanded
400,000 shillings to be sent to the victim’s contact before he is released.
According to Okema, police has
commenced inquiries in to the case but no suspect has been arrested yet. Okema also revealed that they are trying to trace the victim’s
whereabouts thorough the number that was used by the alleged kidnappers.
This is the fifth kidnap case being
reported at Elegu Police Station in less than three months. In December 2019, a
six-year-old boy’s body was discovered floating on River Unyama with missing
body parts after he was kidnapped in a suspected ritual sacrifice.
In January, suspected militiamen kidnapped a Ugandan
businessman, Issa Likambo Aziz, a resident of Elegu Town Council inside South
Sudan smuggling cigarettes. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 4 million Uganda
shillings but later unconditionally released the victim.
Journalist
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.