Angry mobs set cable thief ablaze in Akwa Ibom

Angry youths of Obot Idim community in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state on Monday, defied police warning against jungle justice and set a suspected cable thief ablaze.

The incident, it was gathered, occurred in the wee hours of the morning along Aka Nnung Udoe road, few kilometers from Uyo, the state capital.

According to Comrade Efremfon Bassey, a member of the community youths group, “vigilant youths of the area had laid ambush and kept vigil for the thieves due to incessant vandalization of electric cables.

“Stealing of armoured cables around these neighbourhood has become a recurrent problem forcing frequent power outages. We could stay for months without electricity because of the cable vandals.

“Each time we report the matter to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), which Akwa Ibom is a part, they would ask us to contribute money since we cannot protect power facilities in our area.

“So, we had to form ourselves into a vigilance group to keep vigil against the vandals, and lucky for us, today (Easter Monday), God showed us that Jesus Christ did not die in vain by answering our prayers.

“They (the thieves) came as a group with all the implements to vandalise the cables, were lucky to have caught up with one, while others fled. We immediately set him on fire this early morning before police could come for rescue, because the police are in the habit of collecting bribes to release criminal suspects,” he explained.

However, following series of extra-judicial killings of criminals on the metropolis in the recent times, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Amiengheme Andrew, has warned the youths against administration of jungle justice on criminal elements.

According to him, “Jungle justice has no place in the criminal justice system”, explaining that “individuals have the right to arrest criminals but should hand over to the Police for diligent prosecution” adding that those behind such illegalities would be made to face the law when caught. (Nigerian Tribune)