Two alleged motorcycle snatchers burnt alive by angry mob in Benue
In a disturbing incident in Makurdi, Benue State capital, two men accused of snatching a motorcycle and attempting to rob their victims were mercilessly set on fire by a furious mob.
The event reportedly unfolded between 12 and 1 am on Friday in the Nyon area, a suburb of Makurdi.
An eyewitness revealed that the suspects were caught and lynched after a commercial motorcyclist, known as an Okada rider, raised an alarm when the two men tried to steal his motorcycle.
According to the witness, identified as Terna, the Okada rider picked up the two passengers from Katsina Ala street in the High-Level area of Makurdi, with the pretext of taking them to Nyon.
“Upon reaching Nyon, they instructed me to enter a specific street, which I obliged. However, as it was getting late, I requested payment to return, but they claimed they had no money and promised to pay at their destination,” the Okada rider recounted.
He continued, “As I tried to depart, they forcefully demanded my motorcycle key. When I refused, a scuffle ensued, and their luck ran out when I raised an alarm.”
Terna expressed concern over the rising cases of motorcycle theft in Makurdi, noting that the community, particularly the youth, have vowed not to spare any culprits caught in the act.
He mentioned how the vigilant youth pursued and apprehended the suspected robbers before subjecting them to severe beating and ultimately setting them ablaze.
Upon inquiry, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene of the Benue State Command, confirmed receiving a report on the incident. She stated that officers had been dispatched to the area to investigate the situation.
While condemning the act, she urged the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and instead report such incidents to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for proper action.