Residents of the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, who were upset about a recent robbery that took place in the area, are responsible for setting fire to a suspect in the crime.
After robbing their victims, the suspects allegedly kidnapped a female occupant of the vehicle after they were done robbing their victims.
It was said that they were on their way back to their hideout when residents of a neighboring community along St. Monica College, Ogbunike Road in the Oyi Local Government Area organized a group effort and stopped them.
It was reported that one of the suspects was burned during the course of the investigation.
In spite of the fact that they were able to capture one of the suspects, it is believed that the others managed to flee the scene.
DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, the state Police Public Relations Officer, has stated that the incident has been confirmed and that police operatives in the area were alerted; however, before they arrived at the scene, one of the two suspects who had been arrested had already been set on fire.
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Ikenga stated that in the early hours of May 3, 2023, police operatives attached to the Ogbunike Division, while responding to a distress call along St. Monica College Road in Ogbunike, arrested one Jamui Emiron, 22, and recovered one already damaged yellow Mitsubishi L300 bus with the number plate Anambra UKP 729 A. The bus was registered to the state of Anambra.
“The suspect was a member of a gang of armed robbers that attacked and robbed occupants of a residential house in Ezi-Ogidi, kidnapped a female victim, and was on their way to their den before policemen were alerted,” the report stated. “The occupants of the residential house were assaulted and robbed of their belongings.”
“Residents of the neighborhood had already provided assistance to law enforcement by barricading the entry and exit points within the area, intercepting the vehicle, and apprehending two of the gang members, while the remaining members evaded capture.
Regrettably, when the police operatives arrived, one of the suspects had already been set on fire by the mob, and the criminals’ operational vehicle had been damaged. The vehicle was taken into custody along with the second suspect, and the operatives were successful in rescuing the victim.
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Ikenga went on to say that the victim of the kidnapping who had been rescued was currently being treated at a hospital, and that the suspect was assisting the police with their investigation.
According to the PPRO, the state Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, urged the people to refrain from taking the law into their own hands by engaging in the practice of jungle justice. He also stated that all suspects should be handed over to the police so that they can conduct an appropriate investigation.
