By Yusuf Olukokun
Some angry Nigerian youths in Abak local government area of Akwa-ibom, took laws into their own hands by setting a suspected tricycle thief on fire, and two accomplices including a female gang member ran away.
According to report, the gory incident happened in the early hours of June 11, 2024, on Uyo-Abak road near Holy College (HOFACO) around Oku-Abak.
Mfon Udokang, an eyewitness, said the jungle justice was performed by angry youths when a three-man gang that had always been terrorizing the neighbourhood was caught trying to do the evil known for.
The deceased was found to be the son of a village head in Uyo, Akwa-ibom state capital, who moved to Abak local government area with his gang members to continue their evil ways of ripping people off their belongings including cash, hijacking of motorcycles and tricycles with guns, and also using female member among them as a bait.
Another eye witness said, “We have been monitoring their activities following complaints by the local residents, and when we received intelligence, we laid an ambush.
“As they (the thieves) were trying to rob a commercial Keke NAPEP operator, he resisted and raised the alarm.
“The alarm attracted youths in the neighbourhood, who woke up early at about 5:00 am and rushed to the scene. The sight of us forced two of them, one male and one female, to escape quickly.”
Waheed Ayilara, the Commissioner of Police had earlier warned against jungle justice in the state, but Essie Okon, another eye witness said; “We decided to take the laws into our hands because each time we arrested and handed over the criminals, the police would release them to terrorise us again.”