Police in Eket Division, Akwa Ibom State have on Saturday rescued an 18-year-old suspected burglar from been lynched by some angry youths in the area.
The suspect was nabbed stealing clothes in a shop at no. 18 Uqua Road, Eket.
An eyewitness, Mr Solomon Akpan narrated that the suspect who hailed from Ikot Ekpene was caught in a ceiling of the shop after he had arranged all clothes but could not escape through the ceiling which he used in entering the boutique at night.
According to Solomon, “the owner of the shop Affiong arrived in the morning and saw the night marauder on the floor with the looted wares as he could not escape.”
Contacted , Affiong said she was afraid when she opened her shop and saw somebody sitting on the floor with heaps of clothes carefully folded beside him.
” I was afraid to see an unknown person inside my shop as I opened it for business of the day. I raised alarm and neighbours caught him.”
The landlord of the shop, Mr Tommy Edoho said after giving the suspected burglar beatings of his life , he was moved to the youth president of Ekpene Ukpa village, Mr Ime also known as ‘Presido’ for interrogation.
It was gathered that a mild drama ensued as some angry youths intercepted at Ekpene Ukpa junction near Later Glory Church where the suspect was forced to sit on the tarred road while receiving blows from the mob.
Chanting of war songs such as ” thief oooo”, “ino”, kill him” while others rushed to bring petrol in four litre container to burn the suspect alive.
The youth president, Mr Ime who could not control the mob immediately called the police Anti Cultism unit , Eket Division to rescue the victim from the mob action.
In a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer, Supol Odikko Macdon said the matter was not reported at the state headquarters but assured that investigations would commence and culprit charged to court for justice to prevail.
He commended police officers in Eket division for rising to the occasion by preventing jungle justice by the public.
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