Two suspected thieves were on Wednesday lynched by a mob in the Udo Obio area of Iboko in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the two suspects were part of a three-man gang that robbed residents and commuters of their valuables while on their way to work.
The three suspects were reportedly chased after they had robbed some commuters using a tricycle.
One of them, who is currently at large, was said to have alighted from the tricycle and escaped while the remaining two were caught and immediately set ablaze along with the tricycle used for their operation.
A resident of the area, Nnamso Inyang, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with our correspondent.
Inyang said, “By the time I came outside, they were burning two people. They were accused of stealing from commuters. They used a tricycle to rob commuters of their phones this morning.
“As they were driving away, some people who were chasing them pushed their tricycle and the tricycle had a minor crash. So, they stepped out of the tricycle and attempted to run. They were pursued and were eventually caught.”
Another eyewitness, Iboro Wilson, said thieves had been terrorising residents of the area lately.
“Yes, it happened this morning. They were caught after they had robbed some people of their valuables and were burnt to death,” he said.
Pictures that went viral on social media showed the tricycle and the suspects burning while some persons were watching from a safe distance.
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Ogbeche-Macdon, said he was not aware of the incident.
“I am not aware of it. I don’t have the information,” Ogbeche-Macdon simply said.
