- Police warn the state residents to refrain from taking law into their hands
- One of the thieves stole a power generating set while the second one stole two bottles of Campari at Godslight Supermarket
Two suspected thieves who were on the brink of being set ablaze by irate mob have been rescued in Akwa Ibom, the police in the oil rich southern state have said.
The state police command made this known in a statement on Tuesday by its Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, in Uyo.
According to the statement, Ubong Sunny Ossom of Ikot Edebe village in Nsit Atai LGA, who was accused of stealing two bottles of Campari at Godslight Supermarket, Ekpene Ukim, in Uruan LGA, was about to be burnt alive when the police patrol team arrived.
Similarly, Christian Effiong of Nung Atai Okobo village in Okobo LGA, who stole a generator at Mount Zion Church Ikot Ambon in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, was also rescued by police officers as he was about to be burnt alive.
The Police PRO, who kicked against stealing, however, condemned the spate of jungle justice in the state, saying: “Whereas the command condemns in totality the act of stealing, which is a crime, subjecting the perpetrators to jungle justice is not in tandem with our legal system.”
He said Commissioner of Police Olatoye Durosinmi has warned perpetrators to desist forthwith or face arrest and prosecution.