Omony Denis & Agency
At least five people have been confirmed injured as several suspects have been arrested by the Police following an attack by youths on pork-selling joints in Yumbe town and the surrounding areas.
Violent riots broke out in Yumbe Town of West Nile on Tuesday morning after a group of Muslim youths armed with Pangas, bows, and arrows stormed the office of the Resident District Commissioner to protest plans to arrest Haji Sheikh Kasim Abdala, who is accused of inciting Muslim faithful to riot against pork vendors.
A motorcycle suspected of being used to carry pigs was also burnt to ashes by the angry Muslim youths.
Preliminary reports indicate that Sheikh Abdala, in one of his daily morning preaching at one of the Mosque’s in Yumbe Town which was also relayed live on Ribat FM and later shared on his personal TikTok urged the Moslem youth to ensure there is no public pork joint in the largely Moslem district of Yumbe, a call that reportedly sparked off the protests and subsequent destruction on Tuesday.
According to reports from security circles, Sheikh Kasim was summoned by the police following a directive from the RDC Yumbe Sulaiman Lubowa, but the youth reportedly stormed his office demanding the Sheik’s release, while others went to the surrounding areas where pork is sold, destroying the joints as others attacked a nearby bar and club, assaulting some of the employees.
Police responded by firing teargas and live bullets to disperse the escalating situation, had spread to the surrounding areas of Yumbe town council.
Collins Asea, North West Nile Police Spokesperson, confirmed the incident but declined to divulge further details, saying security is still controlling the situation.
