- Jungle justice As Angry Mob Set Victim Ablaze
Another armed robbery attack has turned ugly for a member of suspected armed gang along Atiku Abubakar Way in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The three-man gang attempted to escape with a motorbike but fell into open water drainage near Pathfinder hotel by Atiku Abubakar Way Wednesday night.
An eye witness said, “after attacking a pharmaceutical shop on Wednesday evening, the getaway motorbike fell into gutter while two passengers escaped but the rider was apprehended by alarmed youths.”
It was leant that the suspected criminal did not show signs of pains as the mob hit him with all weapons they could lay their hands on. However, the scenario changed when someone spotted beads around his waist suspected to be charms.
“The thief started to beg for his life when the beads was cut off, and he was severely beaten before being set ablaze by the angry mob.”
Another youth in the crowded Street who proffered to be anonymous, told our reporter that the thief turned into a “fire boy”, running around with the flame before he collapsed besides the road median near Rain Oil fuel station along Atiku Abubakar Way.
It would be recalled that armed robbery incident has become rampant in Uyo recent times as the Police warning seems to fell on deaf ears.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Odiko MacDons reiterate that “jungle justice is a perverse state of justice and it is a crime that should be discouraged.”
Mr MacDons urged members of the public to report and handover persons found to have committed any criminal offence to the appropriate authority for prosecution.
“Inform the Police rather than take the law into your hands.” The Police spokesperson warmed.
Recent spike in robbery cases involving young persons has been attributed to high unemployment rate and increase participation of youths in cult related activities among secondary school children in the State.
