An angry mob on Thursday burnt three suspected thieves to death at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra state, on Thursday.
A source said the men who were operating with a tricycle dispossessed a victim of his phone, but were caught.
The source said: “The incident happened at Upper Iweka motor park, almost Infront of Star Sunny motor park, here in Onitsha.
“The men who were operating with a tricycle stopped and dispossessed a man of his phone. As they went back into the tricycle and made to drive off, the tricycle malfunctioned and refused to start.
“They became panicky, and in the process, some boys who were loading vehicles in motor park quickly descended on them, beating them up.
“Some people brought tyres and others brought fuel, and they were set ablaze immediately. Their remains is still here now smoking,” the source said.
The state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, while confirming the incident, said that police operatives had recovered a tricycle, handbag and infinix phone that was allegedly disposed from a female victim by hoodlums operating along owerri road by Romchi transport park, Onitsha.
“Upon police arrival, angry mob had already set 2 out of the hoodlums ablaze. While the one escape.
Meanwhile, police operatives are already on ground there and efforts are in place to apprehend the fleeing gang member.