Private Sam Eyal, a police officer attached to Kwania Central Police Station reportedly shot dead, Desmond Okao, a 22-year-old son of Okii-me-Okabo clan and a resident of Alany cell in Teduka ward, Aduku town council in Kwania District.
Leaders of the Okii-me-Okabo, a clan in Lango have demanded that the government pays "blood compensation" following the alleged shooting of their son by a police officer attached to Kwania Central Police Station.
On Sunday, Private Sam Eyal, a police officer attached to Kwania Central Police Station reportedly shot dead, Desmond Okao, a 22-year-old son of Okii-me-Okabo clan and a resident of Alany cell in Teduka ward, Aduku town council in Kwania District.
Although circumstances surrounding Okao's shooting are not yet clearly established, sources say the deceased was shot dead on his way home from a disco hall at Bruno's Night Club in Aduku after he and others allegedly blocked the Aduku-Lira Highway, picked a quarrel and resorted to the fights.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that the deceased who died on the spot was shot in the head two times and the body was rushed to Aduku Health Center IV Hospital Mortuary.
Richard Okabo, the Clan Chief "Rwot" Okii-me-Okabo Clan in charge Kwania claims that the police instead of arresting their son, charging and prosecuting per the law, decided to shoot and kill their son, who was not only armless but also innocent.
He said that their son was murdered in cool blood by the armed officer Private Sam Eyal.
Although the Otengoro Olang clan has agreed to meet burial expenses, Okabo insists that the government should go ahead to compensate for their son's death as the tradition demands.
//Cue in: "Acalo Atekere wan ..
Cue out: ... compensation me too."//
Translation: "As a clan, we condemned the shooting incident. We are not pleased with the circumstances surrounding the death of our son. At the moment we are handling burial expenses after the burial we shall handle the issue of blood compensation".
Micheal Atine, the Clan Chief "Rwot" of Otengoro Olang in charge Kwania North County, pleaded for forgiveness from his counterpart of the Okii-me-Okabo clan over the shooting incident.
He said his clan is already in talks with Okii-me-Okabo to meet the burial expenses and ensure the blood compensation is settled to restore harmony between the two clans.
//Cue in: "Kop gite tye...
Cue out: ...ngo me atima."//
Moses Muhindo, the Officer in charge Kwania Central Police Station said Private Eyal who is currently on the run, will bear his cross with his clan.
Thomas Opio Okene, a pastor attached to Amuli Baptist Church in Aboko Parish, Aduku Sub County and a Human Rights Defendant condemned the shooting incident.
He said it's the role of the men in uniform to arrest, apply reasonable forces where necessary and present the suspect before the courts of law instead of unnecessary shooting.
He wants the Okii-me-Okabo clan to push for blood compensation from the government, not from the Otengoro Olang Clan.
//Cue in: "As a human ...
Cue out: .. ni tim amano."//
Blood compensation is a Lango traditional justice system which has been used over decades to settle major crimes in the community such as killings in the neighbourhoods. During the compensation, the offender usually the murderer or clan to the victim pays more than seven cows, one cow is cut, eaten and shared informs of rituals as a sign of reconciliation.
In many societies, blood compensation prevents the continuation of hostilities of the form of a feud.
Solomon Okabo
Freelancer