A mob in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State was on Friday set a suspected thief ablaze for allegedly kidnapping two children in the area.
The town has witnessed several disappearances of young children in recent times; hence, the anger of the people of the town when the middle-aged man was reportedly caught with two girls, aged four and five.
It was gathered that the suspect, identified as Sule Sakon Kano, was carrying the children away to an unknown destination when he was accosted by some residents who asked him where he was taking the two children to.
Unable to give any credible answer, it was learnt that they descended on him and beat him to a coma.
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Not satisfied, the mob gathered wood and tyres and put them on the suspected thief while some others provided fuel which they poured on the lifeless body before setting him ablaze.
A video of the mob action showed people pouring fuel on the lifeless body and setting it on fire. The video also showed some children participating in the jungle justice.
A source from the area disclosed that before his death, the suspect reportedly admitted to having committed the crime, saying he usually sold his victims to yet-to-be-ascertained agents.
The source said, “We have witnessed many incidences of children being missing in Lapai town without apprehending any of the criminals. However, when the people caught this one, they decided, out of anger, to take the law into their own hands. They killed the suspect on the spot and burned his body.”
The spokesperson for the state police command, Abiodun Wasiu, when contacted, confirmed the incident. He said when the police arrived at the scene, the mob had dispersed but were able to evacuate the burnt body to the hospital, adding that the police would arrest the culprits.