Angry youths of Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, have set ablaze two thieves that specialize in robbing operators of Point Of Sale (POS) in the metropolis.
The heap of burnt tyres and the charred remains were still at the scene even though the incident happened on Wednesday.
An eyewitness identified as Nyenime Effiong told journalists who visited the scene that the two robbers using motorcycles tried to overpower a PoS attendant dispensing cash to customers near the newly commissioned fly-over bridge.
Effiong said the criminals had succeeded in snatching the lady’s bag but luck ran out of them when the motorcycle they came with refused to start.
He said the POS attendant raised the alarm which made youths of the area and tricycle operators hound them and set them ablaze before the arrival of the police.
He said, “They thought their operation would be swift, but it turned to be end-of-the-road for them. They arrived on a motorcycle and the one on the passenger seat alighted and suddenly accosted the POS operator with a gun and demanded cash.
“She immediately screamed at the sight of the gun and released her purse. But their motorcycle refused to kick. Then some commercial mini-bus and Keke drivers with other angry youths trooped to the scene, chased the thieves and caught them.
Meanwhile, criminals, who perpetrate these nefarious activities using motorcycles, according to some vigilant youths, “are also in the habits of targeting pump attendants at filling stations and supermarkets in the metropolis”.
However, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Amiengheme Andrew, according to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Odiko Macdon, had warned residents not to take the laws into their hands by administering jungle justice on criminal suspects, reiterating that people should hand over suspects to the relevant security agency.
“Jungle justice has no place in law”, he said, advising that “civilians have the power to arrest suspects, but must hand them over to the Police for diligent investigation and prosecution.”
