Attah Ede, Makurdi
A suspected armed robber was on Friday, stoned to death and set ablaze at the Makurdi Modern Market area of Benue State.
Our correspondent who visited the scene of the incident gathered that the suspects was lynched after he and members of his gang broke into two shops at about 3.30am before before proceeding to attack other residents at about 5am today.
Our correspondent further gathered that the suspects involved in the robbery were many and all of them escaped except one.
An eyewitness, Peters Abo , said criminal gangs have been terrorising the residents of Modern Market junction areas of Makurdi before this one met his waterloo.
He said the suspect was reported to have been responsible for many robbery cases recorded in the Modern Market areas and other parts of the town, before nemesis caught up with him.
He said, “ The suspect and his co criminals have successfully robbed a shop where they sell paint, carted away several valuables and also went to a bet naija shop to rob their victim.
“But before they could complete their mission at the BetNaija shop, some people residing within the premises, raised alarm which caught the attention of youths of the area.
“The youths chased them after the alarm was raised. After that, they went to another place to rob.
“They had earlier robbed successfully, shot and snatched a motorcycle from an unidentified person at the Naka road before Bushbar area of Makurdi after which they had escaped before getting to Ankpa ward road to rob other shops.
“The youth pursued them and later caught up with one of them. The other robbers reportedly escaped while this one was unlucky.
“He was therefore attacked with stones and other dangerous objects but those things could not penetrate into him so he was set ablaze.
“The youths caught him with a gun and cutlass which he used to operate. They even used those things on him but he refused to died until they set fire on him.
“This action took place in the presence of a police patrol team who stormed into the youths while they were beating the criminal.
As of press time, the Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, was not reachable on the telephone or respond to text messages for comment.
