ARUA RCC WARNS SECURITY OPERATIVES AGAINST TRESPASS

The house on which the installations were done. Photo by Godwin Abedican.

By Godwin Abedican

Arua City   
The Arua Resident City Commissioner (RCC) has warned security operatives against unlawful trespass in to the communities as they carry out operations.

His warning comes following recent complaints raised  by the family of Late John Eriaga Nikia,  in Buraa cell Komite ward Ayivu west division Arua city where around 7 uniformed unidentified security operatives said to be both police and military threatened family members using guns  on  Monday September 23, 2024,  between 11:00pm and 12:00am and began digging out the materials used for the earthing on one of the family houses, suspecting the presence of mercury that was used in the earthing for electricity installation on the building.

Much as the family has been restricted from involving the media in the investigation of this matter for now, Adiru Emilly the estate administrator of the late John Eriaga Nikia in a previous interview on the matter castigated the behavior of the security operatives who intruded on their property.

“When I reached home I found a hole dug with a length of 2 meters and around 2 meters of depth. These people came well organized, they came with their hoes, spade and other tools.  This is something which was pre planned. It was an organized thing. My dad used to talk a lot with me and he mentioned that those days whenever they are doing earthing, they would put out some mercury, uranium etc. When the intruders failed to remove the earthing, they said they were going to come back with an excavator. So, to me I suspect that these people might have noticed that type of earthing which might have been done to this building,” she said

Kumakech Salim, the Resident City Commissioner says, it was very wrong for such an operation to be carried out without any basic reasons and prior notice of the family and security leadership.

“But also the security officers, there is no need for them next time to go and cause an operation because the items for which they went to cause an operation there, they did not establish and I therefore appeal to the family members that, if they get any suspicious individuals again, they should call me or they should call other members of the security especially the city Internal Security Officer,” he said during an interview.

Arua RCC, Salim Kumakech. Photo by Godwin Abedican.
The RCC however, acknowledges the mistakes made and calls for restoration of hope among the family members and the community around. “I have also met the security officers involved in this operation. We have reached an understanding that since the particular reasons for which the security went on ground has not been positively established, the family should not worry, and no other operation will take place in the family”.

“We have also agreed with the family that, their name is tainted and everybody seems to think that it is a wrong family within the community. We shall at an appropriate time arrange for a community meeting where we will restore hope in the family but also in the general community,” RCC Kumakech he added.

During the attempt to remove the earthing equipment the unidentified security personnel allegedly successfully removed the earthing rod and some wires while they could not exceed past the contracted cast, but had promised to return to accomplish their mission anytime when they get the equipment that can allow them excavate the entire earthing system.
 
 

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