From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Two suspected motorcycle snatchers have been burnt to death in Makurdi, Benue State capital, after an attempt to rob their victims.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident took place at about 12 to 1 am on Friday, in Nyon area, a suburb of Makurdi.
An witness told our correspondent that the suspects were apprehended and lynched, after a commercial motorcyclist popularly called okada man had raised an alarm while the two suspects were struggling to rob him of the okada.
A witness who identified himself simply as Terna narrated that according to the okada man, he picked the two passengers from Katsina Ala street in High Level area of Makurdi town heading to Nyon.
He said “They told me (the okadaman) to bring them to Nyon, a suburb in Makurdi. On getting there, they directed me into a street which I followed.
“But because it was too late, when he got to a point, the okada man told his passengers to pay him so he can get back but they insisted they don’t have money on them and that they will get the money when they get to his house.
“While he made to go, they grabbed him and requested that he gives them his motorcycle key. When he refused to hand them the keys, they started struggling with him and luck ran out on them when he( okada man) raised an alarm.”
Terna however, lamented that the incidence of motorcycle snatching has been in the increase in Makurdi metropolis.
He said community members and especially the youth have also vowed that culprits would not go free when caught in the act.
He further explained that the youth who came out in their numbers gave the suspected bike robbers a good chase and caught them before they could escape.
It learnt that the youth had beaten the dead suspects to a pulp, before setting them ablaze.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Benue State Command, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed that she received a report on the incident, saying some officers have been detailed to the community to find out what actually happened.
She however, reiterated the call on the Benue public to desist from taking laws into their hands and advised them to report such issues and persons to the law enforcement agencies for necessary action.
