SOROTI: How security foiled robbery at Equity Bank, guard arrested

Soroti, (UG):- Residents of Soroti City in eastern Uganda were Tuesday morning left in shock as the tranquility of their town was disrupted by a massive security operation surrounding the city’s Equity Bank branch.

According to preliminary reports, a group of thieves about five in number had managed to infiltrate the premises of the Bank and as the authorities moved swiftly to contain the situation, traffic came to a standstill along the main streets of Soroti, causing inconvenience to commuters and bystanders alike.

ASP Edison Obukulem, the acting spokesperson for East Kyoga Region Police, said in a statement that security authorities received information from the community around 3am and promptly besieged the premises.

“We received information at around 3am and our patrol vehicles arrived and surrounded the place, followed by deployment of a sniffer dog but we are still investigating,” ASP Obukalem said.

Moments later, Equity Bank in a statement confirmed that there was a robbery attempt on their branch but said it had been successfully foiled by security agencies.

“No property or lives were damaged or lost during the incident. Security agents led by local authorities are currently investigating the incident. Normal banking services have resumed,” Equity said.

How security operation was conducted

The circumstances surrounding the attempted bank heist remains as fuzzy as they come. Both Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) and police forces were deployed.

The operation was initiated following reports of a group of thieves managing to infiltrate the premises of Equity Bank.

Initial reports suggested that the security guards stationed at the bank had falsely claimed to have been overpowered by intruders.

But when security finally ended the siege by taking down the “robberies”, there were none. Instead, a scrawny security guard was detained at the scene.

“One off the guards who was stationed at the bank was called but he claimed that he was admitted to the hospital but when our officers followed up on the claim, it was found out he was lying,” Obukalem said.

Francis Erumu, the manager of Equity Bank, confirmed that the thieves attempted to access the bank but were unsuccessful in their endeavors.

However, questions arose concerning the lack of security measures such as surveillance cameras as Soroti City East RCC Edrine Benesa wondered how the area experienced power outage at the time time the attempted robbery took place.

Outside the bank on Tuesday morning, locals crowded in verandahs and along the streets, bringing business to a standstill.

The numbers rendered credence to rumours, with allegations that up to six robbers armed to the teeth had locked themselves inside during a heist that had been exposed.

There were no signs of a breakout spot that the alleged six robbers could have taken off through and the finding of a lone guard only left curious onlookers intrigued.

Besides, security sources speaking in confidence said there was no confrontation with no bullet discharged during the siege either.