A mob in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital on Friday burnt to death two men who allegedly snatched a motorcycle (popularly called Okada). However, the two men met their waterloo when they were attempting to rob their victims bike at midnight.
IVNTV NEWS gathered that the incident took place in the Nyon area, a suburb of Makurdi city.
According to an eye witness account, the suspects were apprehended and lynched after a commercial motorcyclist popularly called Okada man raised alarm. It maintained that the two suspects were struggling to rob the Okada man of his motorcycle, when people gathered.
The eye witness who identified himself simply as Terna narrated how the incident started. He reported that the Okada man, had picked the two men as passengers from Katsina Ala Street in Makurdi town. He was to convey them to Nyon.
According to Terna, “They told him to bring them to Nyon, a suburb in Makurdi. On getting there, 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 he could get back. But they insisted they don’t have money on them. They told him that they will get the money when they get to their house.
“While he made to leave, the two passengers grabbed him and requested that he give them his motorcycle key. When he refused to hand the keys to them, they started struggling with him. But luck ran out on them when he ( okada man) raised an alarm that attracted people to the scene.”
Terna, however, lamented that the incidence of motorcycle snatching has been on the increase in the Makurdi metropolis.
“He said community members and especially the youth have also vowed that culprits would not go free when caught in the act.
Terna further explained that the youth who came out in their numbers gave the suspected bike robbers a good chase. They were able to catch them before they could escape.
He reported that the youth upon catching the two men beaten them into a pulp, before setting them ablaze.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Benue State Command, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident. She said she received a report on the incident. Stating that some Police officers had been detailed to the community to find out what actually happened.
Anene, however, reiterated the call on the Benue public to desist from taking laws into their hands. She advised them to report such issues and persons to law enforcement agencies for necessary action.
