One of the ring leaders of the Moroto Prison break has been shot dead in Kotido District.
Longok Lochamtha commonly known as Lopustom translated in Ngakarimojong as ‘Blue Gun’ was killed on Thursday during a cordon and search operation in Loputuk village Panyangara Sub County.
Michael Longole, the Mt Moroto Regional Police Spokesperson says that Longok was a notorious warrior who has been commanding attacks on military installations.
According to Longole, Longok who has been hiding in the jungle was sighted in Loputuk village visiting his family, prompting security personnel to conduct a cordon and search operation in the area.
Longole says that during the operation, the security forces recovered a gun UG_ PRI 56 3689710-02102 with 18 rounds of live ammunition, which was stolen during the prison break.
Longole noted that the forces have been trailing the suspect after he participated in the attack on Panyangara Anti-Stock Theft Unit detach last year. During the attack, a police officer was killed.
Ambrose Onoria the Kotido Resident District Commissioner says that Longok has been recruiting young boys to waylay and rob people on major roads in the region.
After he was killed, Longok’s body was taken to Kotido town council for public viewing before it was taken to Kotido Health Centre IV.
Onoria said that they decided to display the body as accountability to the people and as a deterrent measure to those who are still engaged in criminal activities.
In September 2020, 224 inmates escaped from Moroto Prison after overpowering warders and accessing the armory where they made off 15 guns and 480 bullets.