Five men are said to have been burnt to death today in Onitsha, Anambra State, after they attempted to disposes a tricycle operator of his tricycle.
A source in Onitsha, who narrated the story to DAILY POST, said the men tried to steal a tricycle from the owner in broad daylight when they ran out of luck and were caught.
The source said the incident took place at old Nkpor road, close to the headquarters of People’s Club, in the commercial city of Onitsha.
“Mob who gathered after the men were rounded up, refused the advice of some people to call in the police.
“They first started by striping the men naked and beating them up, and eventually, some people brought old tyres and fuel, and they were set ablaze.
“It was a very bad sight today, and everyone watched and supervised, while the men burnt to death,” he said.
The Anambra State Police Command could not confirm the incident. A text message sent to the spokesperson of the command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, had not been replied to as of the time of filing this report.
The state police commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng, had severally admonished residents of Anambra State against jungle justice.
Echeng had always insisted that reporting suspects to the police will help investigate and determine the culpability of a suspect, before charging him to court.
On the contrary, in Onitsha where jungle justice has remained prevalent, the people believe that reporting a criminal court in the act would only lead to giving them opportunity to bribe their way out to freedom