Irate youths set ablaze armed robbery suspect in Ibadan

By RAJI ADEBAYO, Ibadan

There was pandemonium early Friday morning in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital as scores of irate mob set a middle aged man ablaze for allegedly killing a victim, after snatching a motorcycle from a commercial okada operator in the metropolis.

As the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu condemned the jungle justice, saying this act of jungle justice which has been common lately was condemned in its totality among Okada riders and any other group.

He noted that the act should be viewed with all seriousness, hence situation will degenerate beyond control, suspect(s) are supposed to be handed over to the Police for investigation & prosecution to allow dignity in our society

Out of the two robbers, it was learnt that the angry youths who have been chasing the robbers from Olomi area, eventually caught one of them around 110 Round About, Odo-Ona area of the city, and set him ablaze after hitting him with clubs, stones and other dangerous objects.

The incident , which occurred around 7.20 am, caused a stir, as many onlookers struggled to see the body of the alleged armed robber burning with flames on the ground.

There was traffic along 110-Akinyemi-Odo-Ona -Apata road as motorists were held up in long queue. There was no presence of policemen, and other security agencies at the scene of the incident while the angry mob administered jungle justice on the suspected armed robber.

Eyewitness said one of the robbers had fled , after been chased by the youths.

It was further gathered that the victim of the suspected armed robbers was shot dead on motion, while been chased, before youths in the area raised alarm and gave them a hot chase.

Reacting to the incident, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident in a statement.

He said the two robbers had snatched an okada ( motorcycle) from Olomi area of Ibadan Friday morning , and they were trailed by angry youths down to 110 Round About, where one escaped but the other one was unlucky.

According to the statement, “Today 4th December, 2020 about 0730 hrs, information received from the DPO Oluyole revealed that two hoodlums robbed an Okada rider of his TVS motorcycle at Olomi area of Ibadan and took to their heels.”

“Luck eventually ran out on them and they were cut up by other riders who were on their trail at 110 roundabout area of Odo-Ona Ibadan. They descended on them before the arrival of the Police and unleash mayhem on them. One ran away, while one other was beaten to stupor and set ablaze thereafter.”

“This act of jungle justice which has been common lately was condemned in its totality among Okada riders & any other groups by the Commissioner of Police, CP. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, psc and should be viewed with all seriousness, hence situation will degenerate beyond control. Suspect(s) are supposed to be handed over to the Police for investigation & prosecution to allow dignity in our society”. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy Daily Independent)