Angry youths have beaten and set ablaze a suspected armed robber who specialised in stealing phones and other valuables at gunpoint along Green Villa Road in the Biogbolo axis of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
According to residents of the area, the incident occurred around 8.45pm on Wednesday, attracting residents, motorists and passersby who stopped to view the scene along the express road.
They said the armed robber, suspected to be in his 30s, was caught dispossessing a resident of his mobile phone while wielding a gun and he was pursued and later apprehended by the vigilant youths of the area.
Daily Trust learnt that the youths used machetes and other objects on the suspect before he was tied and set ablaze on the road and left to die.
Another source told newsmen that the suspect had initially succeeded in an operation after shooting into the air to scare his victims and residents, but came back and the vigilante members apprehended him.
It was gathered that the suspect was arrested by the vigilante group sometime in March this year and handed over to the police, but they were surprised to see him on the street again robbing people of their valuables.
The police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, condemned the mob action on a suspected armed robber, at Green Villa, Biogbolo in Yenagoa.
He said: “On 17 August 2022, at about 2020 hours, a suspected armed robber allegedly pointed a gun at a resident of Green Villa Road, Biogbolo and robbed him of his android phone. A mob, which witnessed the incident, chased the suspect, beat him up and burned him to death before the arrival of the police.
“The command cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their hands.
“The corpse has been evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.
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