20 Year Old Liberian Missionary Arrested for Faking Own Kidnap

By AWORI ESTHER LUCY

Kampala, Uganda| SHIFT MEDIA NEWS| A 20 year- old Liberian National who staged a kidnap so as to earn himself some USD$ 20,000 (UGX74 million) has been arrested by Ugandan police.

Police Spokesman Commissioner of Police Fred Enanga said the Liberian, Taulus Zanto who works as a missionary was arrested by the Territorial Police in Greater Masaka. “We have him in custody along with his accomplice for staging a fake kidnap.  The matter had been reported to police, by Walter Chatora, the National Mission President,” said Enanga.

He said the Church of Jesus Christ had received reports of how Taulus Zanto, working as a Missionary volunteer, in Nyendo, Masaka district, had been kidnapped by unknown persons from his residence on the 02 January 2020 at around 11 pm.

“Eventually, the alleged kidnappers started demanding for a ransom of USD20.000 for his release, lest he would get killed.

A task team was created and a search operation, located the victim at a hideout in Nyendo Masaka district, where it was established to be a false story, but a plot to get quick money,” Enanga told the press in Kampala.

He said the suspect had conspired with an accomplice, a one Makumbi John, a former workmate, who was actually pretending to be his abductor and was using a phone to demand a ransom.

“We are launching an awareness campaign to fight this vice of extortion, where criminals lie about kidnapping a loved one and then demand for money,” warned Enanga.

He said the suspects will be charged with conspiracy, giving false information and demanding by menaces.

16 Year Old Arrested for Defiling 8 Year old

Meanwhile, police in Mpigi has in custody a 16year old, female adult, Nakato Ritah, for the Aggravated Defilement of an 8-year-old male juvenile of Top class nursery.

According to police, the charges stem from an incident that occurred in October, 2019, at Mpigi Town Council, Mpigi District, were the suspect called the victim, and asked him to take her clothes inside her room.

Nakato is reported to have followed her victim into her room, removed his trousers, stimulated him into an erection and sexually molested him. The victim while narrating to his mother indicated how the act happened twice within the month of October 2019.

He further described how the act started with the fondling of his male organs and progressed into an act where his sexual organ was inserted inside the suspects’ private parts.

The matter was reported on 31 December 2019 after a narrative from the victim to her mother on the 28 December 2019.

Police urged parents and caretakers to always be vigilant and closely monitor movements of their children and in particular with known persons.

Most acts of sexual abuse and grooming are initiated by known persons to the family.