Police in Eket Division, Akwa Ibom State have on Saturday
rescued an 18-year-old suspected burglar from been lynched by some angry youths
in the area.
The suspect was nabbed stealing clothes in a shop at no. 18
Uqua Road, Eket.
An eyewitness, Mr Solomon Akpan narrated that the suspect
who hailed from Ikot Ekpene was caught in a ceiling of the shop after he had
arranged all clothes but could not escape through the ceiling which he used in
entering the boutique at night.
According to Solomon, “the owner of the shop Affiong arrived
in the morning and saw the night marauder on the floor with the looted wares as
he could not escape.”
Contacted , Affiong said she was afraid when she opened her
shop and saw somebody sitting on the floor with heaps of clothes carefully
folded beside him.
” I was afraid to see an unknown person inside my shop as I
opened it for business of the day. I raised alarm and neighbours caught him.”
The landlord of the shop, Mr Tommy Edoho said after giving
the suspected burglar beatings of his life , he was moved to the youth
president of Ekpene Ukpa village, Mr Ime also known as ‘Presido’ for
interrogation.
It was gathered that a mild drama ensued as some angry
youths intercepted at Ekpene Ukpa junction near Later Glory Church where the
suspect was forced to sit on the tarred road while receiving blows from the
mob.
Chanting of war songs such as ” thief oooo”, “ino”, kill
him” while others rushed to bring petrol in four litre container to burn the
suspect alive.
The youth president, Mr Ime who could not control the mob
immediately called the police Anti Cultism unit , Eket Division to rescue the
victim from the mob action.
In a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations
Officer, Supol Odikko Macdon said the matter was not reported at the state
headquarters but assured that investigations would commence and culprit charged
to court for justice to prevail.
He commended police officers in Eket division for rising to
the occasion by preventing jungle justice by the public.
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