Angry youths from Umuayalum and Isiuzo villages in Egbu community of Owerri North local government area of Imo State on Monday went berserk as they attacked the alleged leader of a notorious robbery gang and matcheted him to death.
The suspected gang leader was said to be among the robbery syndicate that had invaded the homes of the villagers and robbed them of their valuables including money in recent times.
A resident of the village, who does not want his name in print, recalled that “a man from the neighbouring village noticed the presence of the hoodlums and quickly alerted his people.”
According to the villager, a gun battle had ensued as the local vigilante team in the village and scores of youths stormed the scene to confront the robbers.
“While one of the robbers was overpowered, the rest ran away, leaving behind the deceased, who was instantly clubbed to death,” he narrated.
Another villager, who simply identified himself as Ndubuisi, told Daily Trust that the robbery gang has continued to disturb the peace of the community, saying as a result, when the youths were alerted of their presence, they had to come out enmass to assist the vigilante group.
The witness recounted that “after the robbers fled, the youths pursued them until they caught up with one of their members and dealt with him.”
When contacted, the spokesman of the Imo state Police command, Mr Orlando Ikokwu, a Superintendent of Police, was not reachable for comments as at the time of filing this report.
