A suspected motorcycle thief was recently set ablaze by an angry mob in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The tragic incident which took place on Tuesday along Ibrahim Kashim Road involved a thief who was allegedly part of a gang that targeted unsuspecting okada riders.
According to an eye witness, Andrew Tergu, 2 passengers stopped a bike rider to take them to the railway quarters; however, unknown to the motorcyclist, a third accomplice was already stationed at the drop-off point.
“As soon as the passengers got down, the third man approached the rider pretending to pay the fare. Instead, he pulled out a pair of scissors and stabbed the rider multiple times,” Andrew said.
While the injured motorcyclist shouted for help, the gang quickly tried to abscond with the motorcycle; however, during the chaos, one of the suspects reportedly fell off the bike.
Bystanders took advantage of the fall by apprehending him and dragging him to the main road, where he was burnt alive.
By the time the media got to the scene, Benue State Sanitation Agency officials, alongside policemen, were already evacuating the charred remains of the suspect.
Police spokesperson, SP Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident, revealing that the deceased had just recently been released from the Makurdi correctional centre, where he served time for an identical offence.
“Immediately we received the report, the command dispatched officers to the scene. Unfortunately, before they arrived, the suspect had already been lynched. Our findings show he had just completed a sentence for motorcycle theft,” she added.
Condemning the act of jungle justice, she warned that the command would no longer tolerate such unlawful killings.
Udeme concluded by urging residents to report crimes through proper channels and allow the law to take its course.
