Mob Burn Suspected Motorcycle Thieves To Death In Benue

Two suspected motorcycle thieves were reportedly lynched by a mob on Friday at Nyon community on the outskirts of Makurdi town, the Benue State capital.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the two young men had boarded the motorcycle at about 2 a.m. from the Katsina-Ala Street area of the town to the Nyon community. Then they attempted to snatch the motorcycle.

According to him, “From what the ‘okada’ rider told the youths who burnt the criminals, the two of them were picked from Katsina-Ala street in the high-level area of Makurdi town to be dropped in Nyon.

“He said that on getting to Nyon, they directed him into a street, which he followed. But because it was too late, when he got to a point, the okada man told his passengers to pay him so that he could get back.

“But they insisted they did not have money on them and that they would get the money from the house on getting home.

“While he made to leave without being paid, the young men grabbed him and requested that he gave them his motorcycle key.

“As he refused to hand them the keys, they struggled with him to forcefully take possession of the bike key. But they ran out of luck when the okada rider raised an alarm.

“His outcry attracted the attention of the youths of the communities. They came out in their numbers, gave the suspects a good chase, and caught them.

“They beat them to death after which their bodies were set ablaze with tyres.”

The witness lamented that the incidents of motorcycle snatching had become rampant in Makurdi town. He added that the youths had vowed to mete out jungle justice on motorbike thieves caught in the act to serve as a deterrent.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Catherine Anene, confirmed that she received a report on the incident.

He said: “Some officers have been detailed to the community to find out what happened.”