Warri – A middle aged man suspected to be an armed robber on Thursday night met his waterloo when he was burnt to death by an irate mob along Jakpa Road, Uvwie council area of Delta state.
The incident occurred around 10 pm by the Small Market off the very busy route.
NIGERIAN OBSERVER learnt that the deceased suspect was part of a four-man gang that had earlier snatched a tricycle otherwise known as Keke Napep from an unidentified individual at gunpoint.
The suspect was said to have alighted from the tricycle around the spot, but on sighting some vigilante members, took to his heels.
However, he was caught by another set of vigilantes who had been alerted, and angry residents who got wind of the situation reportedly mobilized to the scene, got hold of the suspect, and set him on fire.
Recall that a similar incident that saw a member of a suspected armed robbery gang operating in a Keke Napep lynched, occurred within the area in June.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident, adding that a member of the gang who fell out of the moving tricycle, is currently in police custody.
He explained that men of the Warri ‘A’ Division received information that a Keke was snatched at Hausa Quarters in Warri South LGA and went after the gang.
“The other three escaped with the Keke. Messages were sent to all the local vigilantes who intercepted them somewhere in Ekpan. Two jumped down and escaped, while one was caught by the vigilante.
“But unfortunately before the police got there a mob had already overpowered the vigilante and set him ablaze. But while they were about burning the Keke our policemen got there.
“Though it was damaged, we were able to recover the Keke. It is the locally made gun they were using to rob with two cartridges and some jewelry that they had stolen that were recovered,” Edafe stated.
