There was pandemonium around the popular Ikoku Market in the Mile axis of Port Harcourt on Saturday when residents and passers-by discovered the lifeless body of an unidentified man with multiple machete cuts.
The body lay in front of a new-generation bank between Ayama Junction and Olu-Obasanjo Road in Port Harcourt.
A source said, “The machete cuts on the body suggest the man may have been murdered.”
However, the Rivers State Police Command stated that the deceased was a notorious criminal lynched by a mob after being caught in the act.
Police said that officers who responded to residents’ calls identified the deceased as a suspect involved in a series of burglaries and related crimes.
The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday evening and sent to news outlets.
Iringe-Koko refuted claims that parts of the man’s body were missing, explaining that after the mob abandoned the body on the road, it was struck by a fast-moving car, which caused additional injuries.
She further stated that the police have launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and apprehend those responsible.
The statement read, “On 9 November 2024, at about 10:30hrs, the Rivers State Police Command received a report of an unidentified body lying near Ayama Junction/Ikoku Spare Parts Market along Olu-Obasanjo Road, Port Harcourt.
“Our operatives promptly responded to the scene.
“Preliminary findings suggest the individual may have been lynched by an angry mob at the scene while attempting to commit a crime, and his remains were subsequently dumped on the road, where it was struck by a fast-moving vehicle, resulting in significant bodily damage.
“Fortunately, all vital organs were found intact.
“The body has been evacuated, and a thorough investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
The statement added, “We urge anyone with useful information regarding this incident to come forward and assist in our investigation.
“The Rivers State Police Command remains committed to maintaining law and order in our community and ensuring justice is served.
