Residents of Odi Olowo, in Mushin area of Lagos State on Wednesday arrested a middle-aged suspected kidnapper, whose identity was given as Charles Ibeleme.
It was gathered that the suspect was arrested while allegedly taking away his victim, a child whose name could not yet be ascertained.
When nemesis caught up with him, Ibeleme, begged the mob not to kill him, adding that the hardship in the country forced him into the crime.
He was thereafter handed over to policemen from the Olosan division.
An eyewitness, who gave his name as Sunmibare, told newsmen that Ibeleme pleaded with the mob not to lynch him, as he was only finding a means of survival.
He said, “We caught him in the afternoon. He was taking a child away from our area. People beat him up and tore his clothes. The man was afraid that he would be lynched and pleaded that his life should be spared. He said he was looking for money.
“He explained that the harsh economy forced him into the act. This got people angry and they would have killed him, but for the arrival of the policemen.”
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