Angry mob set three suspected armed robbers ablaze in Aba (graphic photos)
Angry mob has set ablaze three suspected armed robbers in Aba Local Government Area of Abia State, Vondigest reports.
It was gathered that the men were allegedly part of the criminals terrorising Point of Sale (POS) operators, traders, residents at Abayi, along Aba-Owerri Road, Afor-Ule, Umuimo and Kamalu streets in Osisioma axis of Aba.
Acccording to reports, the robbery suspects were set ablaze at different locations on Sunday, July 3.
This online platform learnt that one was set ablaze opposite UBA building, while others were burnt at Union Bank junction and Star Paper Mill by Kamalu Street, all along Aba/Owerri Road.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the men were caught by irate youths after they had allegedly robbed a PoS operator and some shops in the area.
“After robbing the PoS operator and some shops, the robbers fled when people raised alarm. Some youths pursued them until they were knocked off their motorcycle by a moving vehicle. The youths caught up with them and set them ablaze; one at the opposite of a Bank, others were burned at Bank junction and Paper Mill. These boys have been robbing PoS operators and shops.Today, nemesis has caught up with them,” the eyewitnesses said.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command,Geoffrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the incident to Channels Television via a statement on Monday, July 4, said the suspects were burnt to death on Sunday in an effort to escape the scene of the crime, adding that the situation caused gridlock along Osisioma.
“The jungle justice is preventing police authority to further probe the activities of robbery kingpin in the area, which has been terrorizing the residents; we don’t know their names, even the suspect that escaped,” the PPRO stated.
While condemning the incident, he warned residents of the state against taking laws into their hands as the Abia State Police Command will not tolerate jungle justice in whatever guise.
Meanwhile, a resident, Kenneth Tuga, who shared a photo of one of the suspects, said that five of them were set ablaze.
“Security Watch. Faulks Road Aba. If you are stealing, breaking people’s shops, Attacking POS with guns. Aba dey vex badly now,” he wrote.
“Body count is 5….not that we support jungle justice but the fact is that these guys are getting viciously mean and the people are responding in kind. We have one broken broken shop, the robbers came with RAV 4 grey SUV and stole more than 6 televisions and absconded when alarm was raised. An eye for an eye. Too bad. We no dey sleep.”
