Mob Justice in Benue: Suspected Thief Meets Gruesome End

A suspected motorcycle thief was brutally set ablaze by a mob along Ibrahim Kashim road in Makurdi, the capital city of Benue State, on Tuesday.

According to eyewitness Andrew Tergu, the incident occurred when two passengers hired a motorcyclist, known as an ‘okada rider,’ to take them to the railway quarters within Makurdi.

The passengers allegedly had an accomplice waiting at the destination, who pretended to pay the fare but instead stabbed the rider several times with scissors.

As the motorcyclist fell and shouted for help, the accomplices attempted to flee on the motorcycle, but one of them fell off and was caught by the mob.

Tergu described the horrific scene: “Unfortunately, as they tried to zoom off, the last person on the motorcycle fell down, and people pounced on him, dragged him to the main road, where they set fire on him.”

The mob’s actions were swift and deadly, leaving the suspect with no chance of escape.

When our correspondent arrived at the scene, staff from the Benue State Sanitation Agency and police officers were evacuating the remains of the suspected bike snatcher.

The Police Command’s spokesperson, Udeme Edet, confirmed that the victim had recently been released from a correctional centre in Makurdi, where he had served a sentence for a similar offence.

Edet condemned the jungle justice meted out to the suspect, stressing that the Command would no longer tolerate such actions.

“Immediately we received the report, the command promptly sent a team of officers there, but before they could get there, some people around had set him ablaze,” Edet explained.

“We discovered that the victim was recently released from a correctional centre, and he was said to have been jailed for a similar offence.”

The incident highlights the growing concerns about mob violence and the need for the Community to allow the justice system to take its course.

The Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and are working to ensure that those responsible for the mob action are brought to justice.

The Police command is urging the public to remain calm and to report any suspected crimes to the authorities, rather than taking the law into their own hands.

“We will not tolerate jungle justice in any form,” Edet emphasized. “We will work to ensure that justice is served through the proper channels.”

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and concern in the Community, with many calling for increased security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

As the investigation continues, the Police are working to identify and apprehend any other individuals involved in the crime.