Mob sets robbers ablaze for killing visitor

There was confusion in the Pipeline area, Akute, Ogun State, as two suspected robbers were set on fire by an angry mob for allegedly stabbing a 23-year-old man to death.

The deceased, Wale Adekoya, had visited a friend, identified only as Femi, in the neighbourhood on Monday when the incident happened.

One of the robbers was said to have stabbed Adekoya in the buttock and left him in a pool of blood.

PUNCH Metro learnt the robbers – Umar Muhammed and one Ali – had attempted to snatch a motorcycle from a commercial motorcyclist, popularly called okada rider, around 10pm.

It was gathered that the okada rider called for help, prompting them to flee. The deceased, a barber in Ikorodu, responded to the distress call and gave the robbers a chase.

He was said to have thrown a stick at the robbers which made one of them to fall.

“After the robber fell, he wanted to apprehend him, but he also stumbled on an object and fell.

“The robber that fell rushed at Wale (Adekoya) and stabbed him in the buttock with a poisoned knife.

“People apprehended them before they could escape,” an eyewitness, Dele Olaoluwa, said.

A resident, who identified himself only as Omo Alhaja, said the thieves were beaten to a pulp, after they were apprehended, Wale was rushed to a private hospital in the area, where he died.

Omo Alhaja said the mob became more enraged on hearing the news of the barber’s death, made for used tyres and set the bandits ablaze. He added that it took the intervention of policemen from the Ajuwon divison to save the robbers.

He said, “Wale came from Ikorodu to visit a friend, Femi. He was eating noodles at a canteen when he heard the okada rider shouting for help.

“He chased them with a stick which he threw at them. He had almost reached where one of them had fallen when he also fell. It was in the process that he was stabbed.

“When people learnt he was dead, they became very angry and set the robbers ablaze. If not for the policemen, who rescued them, they would have been burnt to death.”

Our correspondent learnt that the suspects were arrested by the police while the remains of the deceased were deposited in a morgue.

The Ogun State Police spokesperson, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, adding that the suspects came from the Magodo area of Lagos.

He said, “The suspects are with us. They attempted to rob the motorcyclist of his motorcycle. One of them stabbed the deceased while he was chasing them. They were almost lynched when the police arrived at the scene and rescued them from the mob.”