Prime
Fish traders seize Police motorcycle over harassment, extortion
Traders protest after seizing the Police motorcycle. PHOTO BY YAZID YOLISIGIRA
What you need to know:
- The traders, said they were fed up of extortion and harassment from police officers and crime preventers under the guise of carrying out fish operations which is the work of the army.
- DPC says it is the work of the army and not police to carry out fish operations and commended the traders for chasing the group he termed as ‘wrong people’.
IGANGA- Fish traders at Iganga central market have attacked a group of Police officers and crime preventers who were pursuing their colleague for allegedly ferrying immature fish.
Sadat Bamulanzeki is said to have been trailed by the officers on a boda boda and Police motorcycle registration number UP 2506 while ferrying fish from Mayuge District to Iganga and ended up at the Central Market where traders threatened to beat up the officers whom they accused of harassment and extortion.
In the ensuing scuffle, three officers and two Crime Preventers believed to be attached to Buligo Police Post in Iganga Town escaped, leaving their police motorcycle behind. The traders immediately deflated its tyres and fastened it to market stalls using ropes.
Mr Abdu Isabirye, one of the traders, said they were fed up of extortion and harassment from police officers and crime preventers under the guise of carrying out fish operations which is the work of the army.
Business in the market came to a standstill for about two hours when the protestors refused to release the motorcycle unless the Iganga District Police Commander (DPC), Nasibu Ndita, intervenes. Efforts by the Officer in-Charge of Buligo Police Post, Cadet ASP Peter Abao, to calm them down turned futile as he was eventually chased away.
While accusing Mr Abao of extortion, Goretti Masitula, another trader, said: “They have turned us into their daily income and we are fed up of them. We shall not release their motorcycle unless the DPC comes and tells us whether it is the work of the police and not the army to carry out fish operations.”
When Mr Ndita arrived later, he told them that it was the work of the army and not police to carry out fish operations and commended the traders for chasing the group he termed as ‘wrong people’.
He said that the accused officers are to be charged with different offenses.
