Angry youths burn suspected motorcycle snatcher in Benue

Tension gripped the Abagu community in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State on Sunday after some youths reportedly set ablaze a suspected motorcycle thief.

The unidentified man was allegedly caught in the early hours of the day while attempting to steal a motorcycle parked by its owner.

According to local sources, the suspect was apprehended by residents who accused him of being part of a motorcycle-snatching gang operating in the area.

The jungle justice came barely a day after commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders, staged protests in Gboko over incessant motorcycle snatching and killing of their members in the ancient town.

Three people were allegedly killed Thursday night, which triggered a protest by the motorcyclists on Friday.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, who confirmed the protest, said that an investigation was ongoing to unravel those behind the snatching of motorcycles and the killing of okada riders in Gboko.

He said, “Yes, we are aware of the incident. An investigation is currently going on to unravel the circumstances behind it.”

Residents said the mob action happened in the early hours of the day, causing panic in the area as people gathered at the scene before security agents arrived.

The deceased body had been deposited at a private morgue, while normalcy had returned to the area.

Meanwhile, efforts to get a reaction from the Benue State Command spokesperson on the Sunday incident were not successful as her phone rang out, but she did not pick it up as of the time of writing this report.