A man accused of attempting to steal a motorcycle has been killed after a mob allegedly assaulted and set him ablaze in Akwa Ibom State.
The incident happened at about 7:05am at Ikpe Ikot Akpan Village, along the Ikot Ekpene-Uyo Road, according to the state Police Command.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the victim was allegedly caught after attempting to take a motorcycle belonging to Idoroenyin Udo.
John said Udo reportedly resisted the alleged theft and raised an alarm, prompting people in the area to pursue and apprehend the suspect.
She said the situation later turned violent as some members of the mob allegedly attacked the man and set him on fire instead of handing him over to the police.
Following the incident, the police deployed operatives to the scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The PPRO said investigators were also working to establish the identities of those involved in the mob action, with a view to arresting and prosecuting them.
The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, condemned the killing and warned residents against resorting to jungle justice whenever a person is suspected of committing a crime.
The command urged residents to report suspected offenders to the appropriate security authorities, stressing that suspects must be investigated and prosecuted through lawful procedures rather than being subjected to mob punishment.