Police recover hijacked semi-trailer with kerosene cargo

The police have recovered the semi-trailer tanker, Mercedes Benz, blue in color, under reg. no. UAU 402E, at Bukoyo Village, along the Iganga-Jinja highway.

The truck was hijacked by a group of 5 armed thugs, on 21/10/2023, at around 9 p.m. who robbed it at gunpoint with 34 tonnes of Kerosene. It was recovered from Jinja City, by detectives from Kiira region. All the Kerosene, which was being transported from Kenya to Kampala Prompet Energies Ltd, depot was found intact.

SCP Enanga Fred the Police Spokesperson says the scene was thoroughly documented, and the trailer with all its goods was handed over to the management of Prompet Energies Ltd.

The driver of the trailer, Abdul Nuru, a Somali national based in Kisumu, Kenya, was attacked, dragged out, tied both hands and legs, and bundled into the car boot, of a Toyota Wish, whose number plates were not identified, was also recovered in Kakira sugar plantation where he was dumped.

Police administered first aid and his statement was recorded at Iganga police station.

Enanga says that efforts are underway to identify, track down, and arrest the suspects who fled from the scene. He adds that the incident also shows that goods in transit, including fuel, continue to be targeted, especially at night, which calls for extra vigilance and target-hardening measures.

“The thugs attempted to break the seal in vain. We would like to commend our police response teams from the Kiira region, Busoga East, Jinja city, and Iganga, for their swift response and coordination, which led to the successful recovery of the trailer and its goods. We further call upon all truck drivers to call the National Operations Command Center on telephone numbers 0800199399, and 0800199699 and report any suspicious activity,” said Enanga.