By Flavia Ajok
Unknown thugs disarmed two private security guards at Tok-Tik Fuel Station in Pakanyi Trading Center, Pakanyi Sub County, Masindi District, making off with an unspecified amount of money in the early hours of Wednesday morning. According to information gathered by Spice FM, the two guards, identified as Patrick Tugume and Jokindo Orisino, were deployed at the fuel station by Securiko Company Limited when they were attacked and disarmed by the thugs.
The guards, who were armed with two guns, were overpowered by the thugs. After disarming them, the assailants gained access to one of the offices at the fuel station and stole an unspecified amount of money before fleeing the scene. The thugs reportedly discarded one of the guns a few meters from the fuel station, while the other was found in the neighboring Kisanja village.
Residents who discovered one of the guns alerted the police, who swiftly responded. Upon inspection, it was confirmed that the recovered gun was one of the weapons taken from the security guards. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, confirmed that investigations into the matter have begun. He also stated that the two security guards have been apprehended and are currently detained at Masindi Central Police Station to assist with the ongoing investigation.
The attack on the security guards in Masindi is part of a troubling trend of assaults on private security personnel in the Bunyoro Sub Region. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, unknown assailants also raided Nile Agro Depot in Kiryatete, Hoima City, stealing a gun from a security guard. The thieves, wearing face masks, attacked Phelix Ebong, a guard with Express Security Company Limited, and made off with a model 303 rifle.
In a separate incident on Tuesday night, two security guards, Alex Omirambe (28) and another identified only as James (28), were killed in an attack by unknown assailants at Shine Energy Petrol Station in Kiryandongo Town Council, Kiryandongo District. The attackers hacked the guards with machetes before dumping their bodies a short distance from the petrol station.
The assailants also stole a gun, which was later recovered near the crime scene, and broke into an office at the petrol station, making off with an unspecified amount of money.
