By John Ugo, Awka
An angry mob has lynched a member of a seven gang of kidnappers to death in Anambra’ state.
The victim was caught when his gang members abandoned him in Awada area of Onitsha the commercial town of Anambra state.
The gang members were said to have fled on sighting security operatives on Thursday night.
It was learnt that the seven man gang of kidnappers, while taking their victim along Obosi road, Awada, near Onitsha, were accosted by the security agents.
A statement by the Anambra State police command, by its spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga said on Friday that six out of the seven kidnap suspects had abandoned their victims and vehicles, and escaped when accosted by security operatives.
Ikenga said the incident happened at about 9pm on Thursday, but a mob killed the kidnap suspect.
He said: “We rescued two kidnap victims, and recovered a Toyota Highlander jeep with reg nos NSH 398 HA and Toyota Camry with reg nos BRS 941 AA.”
“Preliminary information, shows that security operatives intercepted a seven man kidnap gang along Awada, and in an attempt to arrest the criminals, six out of the seven gang members escaped and abandoned both the victim’s vehicle and their operational vehicle, also leaving behind their victim.
“The seventh person, arrested was lynched by an angry mob and set ablaze before police operatives could arrive the scene.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng had condemned the killing of the suspect, saying that it amounted to taking the laws into their hands.
He said: “He (CP) condemned the act of mob action by some members of the public who resorted to jungle justice whenever they arrest suspects in respect of criminal allegations without recourse to the Police for proper investigation.
“He also urged them to always exercise restraint by not taking the law into their hands. They should endeavour to take such suspects to the nearest Police Station whenever they are apprehended. This would afford the Police the opportunity to conduct appropriate investigation into the nefarious activities of the suspects; and bring them to justice in accordance with extant laws.
“Meanwhile, police operatives have initiated an operation aimed at arresting the fleeing gang members and suspects who took laws into their hands by setting ablaze the arrested suspect.”