Suspected motorcycle thief set ablaze after allegedly confessing to killing Okada riders

In a tragic incident that took place on June 6, 2023, an enraged mob in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State resorted to extreme measures and burned a young man alive, accusing him of stealing a motorcycle. The unsettling event occurred in the early hours of the day.

According to reports, the suspect targeted a commercial motorcyclist at Ochito-ghana and successfully seized his bike. However, his luck ran out when he decided to show the stolen motorcycle to a friend on Jamaica Street. A sharp-eyed observer became suspicious of the young man and raised an alarm, believing him to be the thief. This led to a gathering of commercial motorcyclists who surrounded him.

As the situation intensified and the suspect faced physical aggression, he made a shocking confession. He admitted to not only stealing motorcycles but also to the murders of several Okada riders in Otukpo, including a recent killing on Achigili Street. He further revealed that he sold the stolen bikes in Obollo, Enugu State.

The crowd, fueled by anger and a desire for justice, subjected the young man to vigilante justice. Witnesses described a gruesome scene where he was forced to parade naked with the stolen motorcycle before being set ablaze near a wood depot in Otukpo. The intense fire reduced him to ashes.

In the wake of this horrific incident, the Ochotukpo Odu, His Royal Highness, Chief (Dr.) John Onuminya Eimonye, expressed his condemnation of mob violence that led to the young man's death. Addressing the public from his office on June 7, he voiced his distress over the increasing crime rate in the town and urged young individuals to abstain from engaging in criminal activities and social vices.

The royal leader emphasized that regardless of the severity of a crime, there are legal provisions in place to administer appropriate punishments. He strongly criticized the act of mob justice, labeling it as outdated, barbaric, and inhumane.

The incident serves as a distressing reminder of the need for a fair and just legal system to address crimes and discourage individuals from resorting to violence as a means of seeking retribution. It is crucial for communities to promote the rule of law, discouraging mob justice and instead encouraging cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

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