Two SGA employees in Police Custody Over Attempted Robbery of Equity Bank, Soroti Branch

Two SGA employees in Police Custody Over Attempted Robbery of Equity Bank, Soroti Branch

BY NANCY ATIM

The territorial Police manning Soroti City East division has on Tuesday 23rd April, 2024 arrested two employees attached to Security Group Africa (SGA) following an alleged robbery at Equity Bank in Soroti city.

Speaking to the press, Francis Erumu, the Manager of Equity Bank Soroti city, says that everything at the bank is intact despite the attempted robbery.

 “The thieves tried to access the bank last night; however, the guards were on alert and the police are still doing their work”, he said.

Musa Eromo, the Assistant Resident City Commissioner, Soroti City West Division confirmed the incident noting that security has surrounded the place for further investigations.

“Yesterday at around 1 o’clock, some thugs found themselves in Equity Bank Soroti Branch and security was informed that some unidentified persons had found their way into the bank premises”, Eromo added.

Eromo says the thugs aided their entry with a ladder through the first floor of the bank through the windows.

He further advised the different banking institutions to ensure they have security systems in place that are much reliable and also conduct security checks and follow ups to avoid such scenarios.

“Security management should always do routine checks every now and then because he have always heard scenarios that the security on duty are asleep and that is how sometimes these robbers get access”, he added.

Meanwhile, the deputy RCC Soroti City East division Edwin Benesa appreciated the collective responsibility portrayed by the community members who later saved the bank from such calamity.

“I want to commend the members of the community for being vigilant and for doing the needful to save the situation here; otherwise, the bank could have lost colossal sums of money”, Benesa added.

He however showed concern over the bank’s weakness and failure to install CCTV cameras, something he says has made security findings difficult and power blackouts in the city.

“I was talking to the police head of CCTV cameras but unfortunately, the bank does not have any cameras around. Then the other issue is how UMEME went off just within that proximity of time when thieves were attempting to rob the bank, an aspect that brings about many questions”, he said.

He appealed to the public to be vigilant and get in touch with police in such incidents, confirming that a joint security team is already in place to conduct investigations.

While speaking to Q.fm news desk, East Kyoga Police spokesperson, ASP Edson Obukulem testified to this incident that happened at about 1 am on Tuesday April, 23^rd 2024.

He identified the two SGA staff members as John Erong, 36 (Supervisor) and Emmanuel Epuneu were encircled on Tuesday April 23^rd 2024 in the wee hours from the Equity Bank Soroti Branch premises after a failed attempt to rob the bank.

“We believe that these people took advantage of the total blackout in Soroti City and failure of the bank generator”, he said.

He further urged all security teams of the different institutions to always be in touch with the deployment and operations officers of the different security agencies and as well as bearing immediate contacts of the area police for quick response.

He however says that the third suspect is on the run with all his contacts off.

 “Our joint task team from the police and UPDF responded swiftly and staged at the bank. Our prior investigations indicate that the suspects escaped from the scene after failing to access the banking hall. No one was hurt, and no property or money was stolen,” Obuku Lem said.