An angry mob has beaten three men suspected to be armed robbers to death in an Ondo State community, a development which has caused quite a stir in the area.
File photo used only for illustrative purpose
No less than three suspected armed robbers were yesterday reportedly beaten to death aggrieved resident in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
According to The Nation, the deceased were accused of snatching two motorcycles from their owners along the popular Hospital Road.
They were said to have been arrested and beaten by passers-by following an alarm raised by one of the victims.
Sources said they were later rescued from the scene by the police but died before getting to the hospital.
A locally made pistol and the stolen motorcycles were among the items reportedly recovered from them.
Spokesman of the State Police Command,Femi Joseph confirmed the incident, describing the mob action as illegal.
Joseph, admonished the people against jungle justice, insisting that those involved in the mob action would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
According to him, “At about 8am on Tuesday along Hospital Road, we were told that a three-man gang was caught while trying to steal an Okada.
“In the process, the owner raised an alarm which attracted some members of the public. In no time, a mob descended on the suspects and beat them to a pulp.”
He said they sustained they sustained third degree injuries and in the process of rushing them to hospital they died midway.
Joseph affirmed that the deceased were actually robbers,but condemned the jungle justice meted out to them,which he said was against the law.
He vowed that the police would apprehend all those who participated in the jungle justice because ,saying ”this act is condemnable and reprehensible.”