THE community of Apaa village in Amuru district on Thursday held hostage the Kilak MP, Michael Nyeko Ocula for visiting a health centre, which they said was being constructed by his rival, Maj. Gen. Julius Oketta.
Ocula was reportedly pushed inside a hut, commonly known as ‘Baghdad house’ used for disciplining people.
The lawmaker was ordered out of his vehicle by the rowdy youth and told to handover the vehicle’s key, plus his phone, before walking about 2km to the Apaa centre, where people had gathered.
The MP, according to the Amuru district speaker, Michael Lakony, has reported the incident to the Police after his release at about 9:00pm. He had been detained since 6:30pm.
Lakony alleged that the youth who held Ocula hostage were armed with guns and belonged to the Joint Command Centre squad, which were recruited during the peak of the LRA insurgency to provide security to the people.
“Ocula went to see the health centre under construction without notifying the community.
“When they learnt of his presence, the youth took his car key and phone and ordered him to walk as they drove the vehicle behind them. They destroyed all the documents which were in the vehicle,” Lakony explained.
He added that the two people whom Ocula was moving with were beaten. The community quizzed Ocula on why he dragged Oketta to court over Amuru land, why he has always supported the people of Lamogi and forgetten about Pabbo.
According to Lakony, the health centre, which Ocula visited, is being constructed under the government Peace Recovery and Development Plan, although the community insists its being built by Oketta.
The regional Police commander, Martin Amoru, said that investigations into the matter would start.
“We do not know the circumstances under which the incident happened. He reported that his phone and other things were taken,” Amoru said.
