Police Arrests Rogue Security Operatives Behind A Series Of Kidnaps Using "Drone" Numberless Van

Police Arrests Rogue Security Operatives Behind A Series Of Kidnaps Using “Drones” Numberless Vans

Posted by: Eninu William in Uganda news February 6, 2021

A joint security operation speared-headed by police has arrested a total of 10 operatives who they say have been behind the recent wave of kidnaps across Kampala and other areas. These security operatives using drone vehicles have been bundling Ugandans into numberless vans and whisking them to unknown places.

Some they killed while others they tortured mercilessly, some have even lost their lives in the hands of these security operatives. To this day, some members of the community have never been found, leaving their facilities with questions that heads of security failed to explain earlier last week.

Several people have in the past been arrested by armed security men both in uniform and in plain clothes. These operative drove numberless vehicles and picked out people from either their homes or workplaces. Many of them have never been seen again, raising fear among members of the public.

Newslex Point has however learned that these rogue operatives are attached to the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT). Police arrested and are currently detaining them for masterminding the abductions.

What a source revealed

An anonymous source revealed that after complaints by members of the public, the police launched an investigation. Its eventual result is the arrest of the 10 operatives.

“The operation was led by the DIGP himself(Lokech) and was successful. Culprits are currently in custody,” the source said.

It has however not been established by this website whether the operations to abduct the civilians were sanctioned or were done by the individual operatives for their own selfish interests and taken to secluded places where they were tortured from.

Abductions

Towards the January, 14 polls, the abductions, mainly opposition supporters increased in several parts of the country.

There was an outcry by members of the public over the manner in which security operatives in uniform using vans with either concealed number plates or without number plates at all arrested people and took them to unknown destinations.

Many of the people arrested went missing for a number of days and later resurface with torture wounds. Others remain missing till today.

Police’s failure to explain the disappearances

Last week, the Internal Affairs Minister, Gen Jeje Odongo, and the Inspector General of Police, John Martins Okoth Ochola failed to explain the whereabouts of the missing people.

Responding to questions from journalists, the duo admitted they could not explain the whereabouts of the missing Ugandans.

“I wish we had known that earlier. We would be able to say there are 40 to 20. Certainly, we do know people have been reported missing and we are tracking that record. When you make a general statement, the inquiry becomes difficult,” Odongo told journalists.

Later on Wednesday, the minister told parliament that whereas some of the missing people had been found, the whereabouts of 31 others are still not known.

“A total of 31 people is yet to be traced as investigations continue. I undertake to give progress about the ongoing investigations with time as they are being undertaken,” Odongo said.

Where the investigations started from

Earlier on Monday, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Paul Lokech told journalists that he had instructed the CID Director AIGP Grace Akullo and her Crime Intelligence counterpart, AIGP Brig Chris Ddamulira to investigate the abductions.

Lokech noted it was time the public got to know who is abducting the people and the charges they are facing.

“I have instructed the Director of CID, Director of Crime Intelligence to give me the list of anybody who has been arrested. And in any of the cells of our security agencies. I have also instructed that those people arrested and they feel are a threat to security must be brought before the courts of law. This must be done within 48 hours as stipulated in our regulations,” Lokech said.

Authorities expect the latest development to give a sigh of relief to members of the public. Especially those who were worried over their relatives and colleagues who have been missing under unclear circumstances.

Many had started fearing the so-called drone vehicles. On many occasions, a number of people have scampered for their dear lives on the sight of the vehicles.

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