Ten persons have been injured in a clash between residents and the police in Loagri in the Yagaba/Kubori constituency of the North East region over the custody of an alleged motorbike thief.
Tensions have flared after the incident which was caused by the rising motorbike thefts on market days.
The recent clash resulted in gunshots which got the ten persons injured.
In the latest incident which occurred Wednesday, December 27, 2023, the suspect, which according to residents was on a wanted list, was attempting to steal a motorbike but got caught in the act.
He was chased by onlookers and the owner of the motorbike and went to hide in a nearby house for refuge. This drew the attention of the residents who got angry and eager to see justice served.
The house owner locked the door to protect the suspect, while residents demanded access. Police, patrolling the market due to its frequent theft problems, arrived on the scene to secure the stolen motorbike. However, they faced resistance from the angry crowd who feared the suspect would escape punishment.
The situation escalated as residents and police clashed. An eyewitness report indicates confusion over the police’s actions, with residents questioning why they didn’t immediately apprehend the suspect. Feeling their concerns were ignored, residents grew increasingly frustrated.
The police, after sensing the increasing anger of the crowd decided to disperse them by firing warning shots where some residents pelted the officers with stones in return. This made the police fire the guns in their direction, injuring 10 of them.
The alleged thief is currently in police custody with the injured receiving medical attention whilst investigation is underway.
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