- The residents of the neighbourhood pummeled Etete, flogging him with horse whips and canes and bludgeoning him with planks
In Cross River State, One Obong Ete, a landlord, has been subjected to public humiliation and severe beating by his tenants and neighbours for robbing them.
The incident happened on Waddel Street Calabar South local government of Cross River State.
The residents of the neighbourhood pummeled Etete, flogging him with horse whips and canes and bludgeoning him with planks.
The incident happened on Sunday just when his tenants and other neighbours were about to depart for Sunday worship.
Residents of the area lamented bitterly about the nefarious activities of Ete, saying the accused, who is in his 30s, a bachelor, is fond of terrorised them almost every night
One of the residents, John Akpan said this young man, despite being a landlord continually steals food items such as bunches of bananas and household items, dispossessing neighbours of their valuables at night.
“Obong Ete has been doing this for a long time. It is good that he is again publicly disgraced. He doesn’t want to repent. Many times, youth leaders and vigilante groups have traced stolen items to his apartment, and beaten him up”, Akpan narrated.
A tenant, Magdalene Effiom, said “We learnt from his family people that he once stole from a church, and worshippers laid curses on him. Perhaps these curses are affecting him.
“Other neighbours whom he has burgled their homes have also been cursing him, too.”
After the severe beatings, the youth leaders who have often handed him over to the divisional police officer of Mbukpa station, forced him to swear an oath that he will not rob or terrorize his tenants and neighbours any further.
Brutalized Obong Ete said, “I am sorry for stealing. I swear that I will not continue to steal again.”
He agreed that if he ever stole again, they were free to mete out any measures deemed fit.
The youth leaders also suspected a young man who lives with him is his partner in crime.
They evicted him from the landlord’s apartment, warning him never to return to the community or face the long arm of the law if he ever did.
In a reaction, the Police PRO, Irene Ugbo disapproved of the brutalization, advising that such cases should always be handed over to the police