Five men were reportedly burnt to death in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Saturday after they attempted to disposes a tricycle operator of his tricycle.
A local, who witnessed the incident, told newsmen that the men tried to steal a tricycle from the owner in broad daylight when they ran out of luck and were caught.
The source said the incident took place at old Nkpor road, close to the headquarters of People’s Club, in the commercial city of Onitsha.
“Mob who gathered after the men were rounded up, refused the advice of some people to call in the police.
“They first started by striping the men naked and beating them up, and eventually, some people brought old tyres and fuel, and they were set ablaze.
“It was a very bad sight today, and everyone watched and supervised, while the men burnt to death,” DAILY POST quoted him as saying.
The Anambra State Police Command could not confirm the incident as the spokesperson of the command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, is yet to issue a statement on the development.
The state police commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng, had severally admonished residents of Anambra State against jungle justice.
Echeng had always insisted that reporting suspects to the police will help investigate and determine the culpability of a suspect, before charging him to court.
On the contrary, in Onitsha, where jungle justice has remained rife, the people don’t have faith in the police and the judiciary, they believe that reporting a criminal to the relevant authorities would only lead to giving them opportunity to bribe their way out to freedom.