Angry mob burn suspected kidnapper alive in Anambra
An irate mob has set ablaze one of a four-man kidnap gang in Obosi community of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state, while three other gang members escaped.
According to a source, a combined team of Obosi youths and security operatives stopped a vehicle of suspected gangsters and demanded to conduct a search, where they realised that a married couple who were just kidnapped by the gang were inside the vehicle, in an attempt to rescue them, the kidnappers opened fire on the team.
It was gathered that after the team overpowered the kidnappers, an irate mob allegedly trooped out from nowhere, snatched one of the suspects from the grip of the team, stripped him naked, and beat him to a pulp before setting him ablaze.
The burnt naked corpse of the suspect was seen still lying face up at the scene of the incident the next morning.
President-General of Obosi Development Union, ODU, Chief Ikechukwu Okolo, and Ugonabo Shedrack Okenwa, palace secretary to Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi who confirmed the incident said the town union, in collaboration with the royal cabinet, specifically set up the combined team to counter evil activities of criminals who have been terrorising law-abiding citizens of the area.
They disclosed that the team was just returning from where they had gone to search for suspected cultists’ hideout before they accosted the gangsters.
Meanwhile, the State Police Spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident in a statement made available on Friday, said the State Police Commissioner, Echeng Echeng, has initiated an operation aimed at arresting the fleeing gang members and suspects who took laws into their hands by setting ablaze the arrested suspect.
The PPRO disclosed that the police operatives in collaboration with security operatives at about 9 pm on 23/6/2022 rescued the two victims and recover a Toyota Highlander jeep with reg nos NSH 398 HA and Toyota Camry with reg nos BRS 941 AA.
He said preliminary information revealed that security operatives intercepted a seven-man kidnap gang along Awada. In an attempt to arrest the criminals, six out of the seven gang members escaped and abandon both the victims’ vehicle and their operational vehicle. The seventh person, arrested was lynched by an angry mob and set ablaze before police operatives could arrive at the scene.
Consequently, the commissioner of police, CP Echeng, condemns the act of mob action by some members of the public who resort to ‘Jungle Justice‘ whenever they arrest suspects in respect of criminal allegations without reporting to the Police for proper investigation and persecution.
He also urged citizens to always exercise restraint by not taking the law into their hands.
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