The police have kicked against the resort to jungle justice as three suspected thieves have been burnt to death in the Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State.
It was gathered that the suspects were lynched with tyres on Sunday at different spots in the metropolis despite the 10pm to 6am curfew imposed on the city.
Investigation on Monday revealed that one of the suspects was burnt to death at Atu by Palm Street; the second one was lynched on Mayne Avenue by Inyang, while the third victim was burnt at EfioAnwan Street at Anantigha.
An eyewitness, who described how the victim at Atu by Palm Street was killed, said, “He went to steal at a different location, so he was caught and brought to Atu by Palm Street, where he lived, and burnt to death. He used a master key to break into people’s houses and shops to steal. You can see the keys beside his burnt body.”
Describing the incident on Mayne Avenue by Inyang, a tricycle operator, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “He used to ride Keke NAPEP before suddenly he stopped. I don’t know that he had gone into stealing.”
Residents also described the victim lynched at EfioAnwan as someone who lived around and was notorious for stealing in the neighbourhood before he met his end.
It was alleged that whenever he was arrested by the police, he would be freed and continue with stealing.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Irene Ugbo, said, “I will find out and get back to you. However, jungle justice is not the way out.”
Ugbo had yet to get back to our correspondent as of the time of filing this story.
