Mob Kills Police Officer in Ngai After Accidental Civilian Shooting Sparks Outrage

19 May 2025, 10:08 pm

By Eman Yonah Oruk

North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, SP Jimmy Patrick Okema

A mob in Ngai has killed a police officer from Ngai Outpost after he accidentally shot a civilian.

According to reports gathered by our team, the officer, identified as Johnson from Ngai Outpost, had been assigned to arrest a suspected motorcycle thief named Ambrose Okwir.

Upon arrival, he fired a bullet into the air but shortly afterward, he fatally shot Nelson Ojok Omoding of the Oromo Agwata Wil clan, a resident of Tecik village, Ngai.

According to North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, three police constables—Herick Ojok, Robert Aguta, and Naturinda John Bosco—had officially booked out from Ngai Police Station to arrest Okwir.

Okwir had been implicated by two previously arrested suspects, Joshua Ongiro and Jolly Obong, as the ringleader and the person in possession of the stolen motorcycle, registration number UDY 645Q.During the arrest operation, Nelson Ojok Omoding and several others reportedly attempted to disarm the officers.

In the chaos, the magazine of one of the officers’ rifles was removed, but the firearm had already been cocked.

A round was discharged, striking Omoding. He was rushed to a nearby clinic but succumbed to his injuries. The shooting sparked outrage in the community.

A mob descended on the officers, prompting Constable Naturinda to seek refuge at the home of LC1 chairman Nixon Ameny.

However, the mob forcefully took him and lynched him on the spot. The other two officers fled in different directions and were later rescued with injuries.

They are currently receiving treatment at Anyeke Health Centre IV. The situation escalated further when an angry mob stormed Ngai Police Station, vandalizing property, destroying case files and communication equipment, smashing windows, and forcefully releasing detainees from the cells.

The bodies of the deceased civilian and police officer were taken to Anyeke Health Centre IV for postmortem examinations. The officer’s firearm was recovered, though its magazine, containing 29 rounds, remains missing.

A murder investigation is ongoing, with intelligence teams deployed on the ground. Police have already identified about 15 key suspects linked to the mob violence, and arrests are underway.

North Kyoga Regional Police Commander SSP Doka Rashid has led a team to support and reinforce investigations.

Following the shooting, tensions between civilians and police escalated, resulting in the killing of Officer Johnson, the destruction of the police outpost, and the loss of a firearm.

Jimmy Anywar Dolo, the LC3 chairperson of Ngai sub-county, confirmed the incident and urged the community to remain calm and avoid further violence while awaiting official rulings.

Hon. Beatrice Okello, the female LC5 councillor representing Ngai and Abok, described the tragic event as unfortunate. She called upon residents to maintain peace, assuring them that leaders would address the situation.

Ogwal Tommy, Mayor of Ngai Town Board, also confirmed the incident to reporters, having witnessed the events firsthand.

David Opio Apap, clan head of the Oromo Agwata Wil clan and brother to the deceased, expressed his grief, saying he had little to say at the moment as he was still deeply affected by the loss.