An angry mob on Monday set fire on a suspected armed robber who was said to be among a gang of seven that overran Eziama area in Aba, Abia State.
Abia police spokesperson, Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed that the incident occurred at Uche Street in Eziama, Aba North LGA, in the early hours of Monday.
“We got the information this morning that a gang of seven armed robbers attacked the residents of Eziama, Aba and robbed them of their household valuables which included televisions, palmtops, mobile phones and other properties,” Ogbonna said.
The spokesperson said the police had begun investigation to determine the deceased’s identity including those who formed the mob that lit him up.
“The hoodlums, armed with machetes and locally made guns, left after they thought that they had succeeded.
“But luck ran against one of them who was caught by the irate mob and they burnt him to death.
“We are nosing around to find out the identity of the burnt suspect because when things like this happen, people will be skeptical to talk to the police,” he said.
Ogbonna warned against jungle justice especially because it does not help the police in fishing out other possible accomplices.
“If they had caught him and handed him over to the police, we would have extracted some helpful information from him that could lead to the arrest of other gang members.
“But now that they have killed him, it has become more difficult,” he added.
