Police in Koboko District have launched investigations into a brutal mob attack that left three male adults dead and a motor vehicle burnt at Diobi Village, Metino Parish, Abuku Sub-county.
The incident, which occurred on the night of November 21, 2025, was reported to Police at around 3am.
According to security, the victims were travelling in a motor vehicle registration number UA 186BP, a green Toyota Hiace popularly known as drone, which was set ablaze by unidentified community members.
One of the deceased has been identified as Habibu Suleiman, aged 43, after a National ID was recovered from his pocket. The other two victims remain unidentified.
Police opened a case file of murder by mob and arson under Koboko CRB 482/2025.
Upon receiving the report, officers visited and examined the scene, recorded statements from witnesses, and transported the bodies to Koboko General Hospital for postmortem.
Police also recovered three cows believed to have been with the victims and drove them to Koboko Central Police Station.
The burnt vehicle, the cattle, and the National ID were all kept as exhibits.
SSP Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Region Police PRO, confirmed the incident and strongly condemned the growing trend of mob violence.
“We condemn these acts of mob justice in the strongest terms,” SSP Angucia said. “Such actions do not only interfere with proper investigations but are also illegal. No one has the right to take another person’s life under any circumstances.”
She added that the victims were discovered with their hands tied behind their backs and had multiple head injuries, indicating they were beaten before being set on fire along with the vehicle.
Community members told police they suspect the three men may have been cattle thieves, noting that the region has recently experienced several cattle raids—cases that tend to escalate during the festive season.
But SSP Angucia urged residents to resist taking the law into their own hands.
“We understand the frustrations caused by repeated cattle thefts, but mob justice is not the answer,” she said.
“We encourage communities to remain vigilant but report suspects to the nearest police station so that lawful procedures can be followed.”
She noted that no arrests have been made, but inquiries are ongoing as detectives piece together what happened and identify the perpetrators.
Angucia appealed to the public to cooperate with police.
“We call upon anyone with information that can help in this investigation to come forward. Justice must be achieved through lawful means,” she said.
