Two suspected phone thieves met a tragic end on Friday when they were set ablaze by an irate mob in the Kabong community of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State.
Eyewitnesses reported that the suspects had been robbing passersby and road users at gunpoint, targeting phones and other valuables.
Angered by the recurring attacks, residents mobilized, pursued the suspects, and caught two of them while others managed to escape.
A resident, Mathew Ignatius, revealed that the community had endured repeated attacks by the suspects, who often struck during early mornings, noon, and late evenings.
“This morning, when they struck again, a mob gave them a hot chase and caught two suspects, burning them immediately,” he said.
The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Alabo Alfred.
According to the police, a distress call received around 9:20 a.m. alerted them to the mob action. Responding officers found the charred bodies of the suspects and recovered two locally fabricated pistols believed to belong to them.
While condemning the activities of armed robbers, the Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, also decried the execution of jungle justice.
He urged citizens to report suspects to law enforcement agencies, emphasizing that mob actions undermine the rule of law.
“The Plateau State Police Command has implemented measures to ensure the safety and security of residents. Anyone found engaging in jungle justice will face the full wrath of the law,” the statement read.
The remains of the suspects have been deposited at a local morgue, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
