Two suspected criminals terrorising residents of Sokoto Road in Main Market, Onitsha, Anambra State have been set ablaze by mobs. Ekweanaedo News gathered that the incident took place at about 3:30pm on Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses said the suspects were caught while trying to forcefully dispossess a tricycle operator of his money and other belongings in the market.
“The tricycle operator had dropped his passengers and their goods in the market, and as he was about to move, those boys approached him and were forcefully attempting to dispossess him of his money before the mobs descended on them, lynched them and them ablaze,” a source said.
The state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident however said that the Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, condemned the action and urged members of the public to always take suspects to the nearest police station for necessary actions.
Meanwhile, preliminary information revealed that the two suspects, who were later simply identified as Omaume and Monday were members of a notorious armed robbery gang led by one Itanda already in the Correctional Service Custodial Centre.
“The gang is alleged to be responsible for several attacks and the dispossession of traders and unsuspecting victims of their personal belongings at the Main Market, Onitsha,” Ikenga stated.
As seen in Onitsha today.. 🤦 pic.twitter.com/AOx4clD8ob
— Hills (@HillsMezie) November 1, 2023