Tension gripped residents of Makurdi on Tuesday after an alleged motorcycle thief was set ablaze by an enraged mob along Ibrahim Kashim Road, in the Benue State capital.
The dramatic and violent episode unfolded after three suspected criminals reportedly attempted to steal a motorcycle belonging to a commercial rider, commonly known as an okada operator. Eyewitness Andrew Tergu, who claimed to have observed the attack, recounted that two men had earlier hired the rider to take them to the railway quarters in Makurdi.
According to Tergu, the situation escalated once the pair arrived at their destination. “As soon as the two passengers alighted, a third man, believed to be working with them, approached under the guise of paying the fare. Instead, he brought out a pair of scissors and stabbed the rider multiple times,” he explained.
The motorcyclist reportedly collapsed, screaming for help. The assailants then attempted to flee with the motorcycle. However, their escape was thwarted when one of the suspects lost balance and fell off. Local residents quickly apprehended him, dragged him onto the main road, and set him ablaze before security forces arrived.
Shortly after, personnel from the Benue State Sanitation Agency and police officers arrived at the scene to remove the charred remains of the suspect.
Benue State Police Command spokesperson, SP Catherine Udeme Edet, confirmed the incident and disclosed that the deceased had recently been released from the Makurdi Correctional Centre, where he served time for a similar offence.
“Once we received the report, a team was immediately dispatched to the scene. Unfortunately, by the time officers got there, the suspect had already been set on fire by bystanders. Investigations revealed that he had only recently regained his freedom after serving a sentence for motorcycle theft,” Edet stated.
The police spokesperson condemned the mob action and issued a stern warning against the rising cases of jungle justice. She added that the command would pursue those involved in taking the law into their own hands, stressing that all criminal matters must be handled within the confines of the law.
