Two Suspected Motorcycle Snatchers Burn to Death in Benue
Two men were burnt to death by a mob in Nyon, a suburb of Makurdi, Benue state capital, in the early hours of Friday. The men were allegedly attempting to steal a motorcycle from a commercial motorcyclist, also known as an Okada rider.
The Okada man raised an alarm while the suspects were attempting to steal his motorcycle. As a result, members of the community apprehended the suspects and subsequently lynched them.
One witness, identified only as Terna, stated that the Okada man had picked up the two passengers from Katsina Ala street in the High-Level area of Makurdi town before the attempted robbery took place.
He said “They told me to bring them to Nyon, a suburb in Makurdi. On getting there, they directed me into a street which I followed.
“But because it was too late when he got to a point, the okada man told his passengers to pay him so he could get back but they insisted they don’t have money on them and that they will get the money when they get to his house.
“While he made to leave, they grabbed him and requested that he give them his motorcycle key. When he refused to hand them the keys, they started struggling with him and luck ran out on them when he( okada man) raised an alarm.”
Terna, however, lamented that the incidence of motorcycle snatching has been on the increase in the Makurdi metropolis.
He said community members and especially the youth have also vowed that culprits would not go free when caught in the act.
He further explained that the youth who came out in their numbers gave the suspected bike robbers a good chase and caught them before they could escape.
It was learnt that the youth had beaten the dead suspects to a pulp, before setting them ablaze.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Benue State Command, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed that she received a report on the incident, saying some officers had been detailed to the community to find out what actually happened.
She, however, reiterated the call on the Benue public to desist from taking laws into their hands and advised them to report such issues and persons to law enforcement agencies for necessary action.
