Security sources told URN on Monday that the suspects disclosed that they were mobilized by the local leaders from the Madi Community and at the time of their arrest they were in possession of two pangas, nineteen arrows and two hand hoes.
Samuel Akera, the Attiak Sub County LC 3 Chairperson, says that the first batch of over 150 asylum seekers arrived in the area in early June, adding that the numbers have been increasing consistently and have now grown to over 800 people together with more than 1,500 head of cattle.
Titus Okello, the Police Community Liaison Officer for Pabbo Police Post says that they are overwhelmed by cases of violent land disputes which he attributes to knowledge gaps
Stephen Odong Latek, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner, says that the suspects were picked up in a security crackdown in the area following the attack.
Stephen Odong Latek, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner said that they have communicated to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) to establish the legality of the South Sudanese presence in the area and possible transfer to a refugee settlement.
The groups while armed with pangas, bows and arrows, and axes have reportedly vandalized and damaged household items, assaulted unsuspecting victims, and vandalized some school properties.
The attackers who have been roaming the area since Saturday last week looted and destroyed household items including ox-ploughs, and solar panels among other items saying that the occupants were illegal in the area.
Kenneth Okot, the Chairman of Atiak Sub–County says that leaders are struggling to carry on with the exercise because they are being frustrated by the police officers taking part in the exercise.
Michael Lakony, the Amuru District LC V Chairperson told URN on Monday morning that only 60 of the impounded cows have been claimed by their owners including an escort to Internal Affairs State Minister, General, David Muhoozi.
Amuru Resident District Commissioner, Goeffrey Osborn Oceng who received the animals says the close collaboration with security officers in South Sudan eased the tracing of the animals.
The residents especially men from the villages of Juka, Wee-Yoo in Kal Acut, and Junction say that they have abandoned their homes and fled to the bushes or homes of relatives for fear of being arrested by security personnel or attacked by their counterparts the Madi tribesmen of Adjumani district.
Ocaya was arrested on Monday evening at around 5 p.m from Apaa Trading Centre while on his way to his home in Wee-Yoo Sub Village and taken to Adjumani district aboard the police patrol vehicle.
The UPDF Fourth Infantry Division Commander Brig. Bonny Bamwiseki says increased vigilance, patrols, and ambushes will help to trap perpetrators and curb looming violence from occurring.
Their arrest comes barely one week after security personnel arrested two people whose identities have been concealed following the death of four people from Madi after violent clashes.
According to Taban, the deceased was kidnapped by unknown men during last week's attack and suspects that he was tortured to death. This now brings to two, the number of people killed during the January 19, 2022 clashes between the Acholi and Madi.
The suspects, a 50-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man whose names have been withheld for security reasons were arrested on Sunday afternoon from their homes in Mungula Parish. They were picked up in a joint operation conducted by the Police and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces-UPDF soldiers.
The Adjumani Resident District Commissioner Peter Taban Data says that security personnel comprising of the army and police repulsed the armed men. He acknowledges that the suspects are from the Madi community seeking revenge over Wednesday’s attacks against their colleagues.
Brutal skirmishes over the land however intensified in October 2017, after the then Local Government Minister Tom Butime, annexed the land from Pabbo Sub-county in Amuru District and officially handed it to Adjumani District Local government.
Oceng however faults the management of Atiak Sugar Factory for their reluctance to ensure that fire breaks are created to ease fighting the fire by the Police.
