Jungle justice: Mob burns ‘robber’ to death near Abuja

Irate youths in Kaba­yi village of Mararaba, Karu Local Government of Nasarawa State, near Abuja have lynched a young man suspected to be robber terrorising residents of the area.

Though details about the de­ceased could not be gathered by our reporter at the time of filing this story, some observ­ers claimed that the victim was a well-known robber in the neighbourhood.

Our correspondent gath­ered that the incident hap­pened Saturday about 4.15am. Though the action has gener­ated mixed reactions from res­idents, very few people were willing to talk to the press on the matter. While some residents said that the action would serve as a deterrent to other intending robbers and criminal gangs who may be contemplating terrorising the neighbourhood, others condemn the action, saying it is unlawful to take laws into their hands.

A passerby, who gave his name as Mathew Pada, con­demned the extra judicial killing of the alleged robber, stressing that the action por­trays Nigeria as a nation with­out laws.

“No matter the level of prov­ocation, we should be civil in carrying out certain actions. I am not in any way trying to justify criminality, but every action must take due process of the law. To me, this is simply barbaric, and I must add that Nigeria is truly a country with­out law,” he stated.

Another resident, who re­fused to volunteer his name, hailed the action, threatening that the youths will continue with such killings until rob­bers vacate the area.

According to him, “this is just the beginning because these bad boys are not allow­ing us to sleep in this Kabayi and they will not sleep too. We will continue to kill them until they relocate to another area like Masaka or inside the bush”. When asked whether he wit­nessed the gruesome murder of the alleged robber, he simply declared: “I am done with you sir”.

However, when our corre­spondent contacted Kabayi Police Post, the officer on duty who do not want his name in print because he was not au­thorised to speak to the press confirmed the incident, adding that the case is beyond the po­lice post.

“This case is above us here and we have sent signals to our zonal head office in Mar­araba,” he added.