A 25 – year – old man simply identified as Monday, escaped lynching by angry mob after being apprehended with two live goats he allegedly stole at Obio Ndot community in Oruk Anam Local Goverment Area of Akwa Ibom State.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the suspect at the weekend came to the village from his base in Uyo, the state capital, where he stole the two goats but was apprehended by the vigilant youths, who swooped on him and raised the alarm.
A member of the vigilance group in the village, Comrade Ubong Udoh, explained to LEADERSHIP that the suspect is an ex-convict and that motivated the surveillance to monitor his movement until he was caught stealing the goats.
“He was escaping with the goats to the park for onward movement to Uyo, when we raised the alarm and rallied the youths to arrest him.
“He is known to have been engaged in stealing people’s goats and selling them in Uyo after he returned from prison. So, on the fateful night, he was caught by eagle eye youths that take charge of providing security in the community,” Udoh said.
He added that the mob beat Monday mercilessly after he was caught as he suffered several machete cuts, while petrol was being sourced to burn him before elders of the community intervened and called the Police that eventually rescued him.
The youth recalled that the same suspect, who sells roasted pork meat in Uyo, had two years ago, stole two goats from the community, loaded them in a chartered tricycle popularly called ‘Keke NAPEP.’
He said before he could be caught, he jumped off and fled from the tricycle, while the rider was arrested and taken to the Police station at the Abak LGA Divisional headquarters.
Responding to the incident, Akwa Ibom Satte Commissioner of Police, CP Waheed Ayilara expressed concern over incessant jungle justices administered on criminal suspects in the state.
He alleged that some persons who have taken laws into their hands by setting suspected criminal elements ablaze have been arrested and would soon face criminal prosecution.
Checks revealed that residents have resorted to jungle justice with no fewer than 15 criminal suspects extra – judicially killed of late.
Those that spoke with our correspondent anonymously alleged complacency of the Police in releasing criminals back into the society to terrify them, few weeks after being apprehended and handed over for prosecution.
