BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A 40-year-old panel beater, Tochukwu Mbanemem, has narrowly escaped death for allegedly stealing motor parts and iron rods in Abakaliki.
It was gathered that the suspect, on December 10, 2022 allegedly stole some motor parts like 911 kicks, rims of big lorry among others from his neighbour’s shop at a mechanic site in Abakaliki. The stolen properties were said to belong to a man identified as Basil.
However, luck ran out on Tochukwu on December 15, 2022 when he allegedly carted away some pieces of rods from a building materials seller, Ogbuagu David and was caught in the act.
When interrogated, the suspect who attributed his act to the devil disclosed that he had equally broken into the shop of Basil where he carted away many costly motor parts.
He was surrounded by angry traders and beaten mercilessly.
However, the suspect was rescued by the market chairman who alerted the state vigilante group, Ebubeagu.
In an interview with the chairman of the mechanic site, Emmanuel Eleke, he noted that he stopped the people from lynching Tochukwu because as law abiding citizens, jungle justice is against the Constitution of Nigeria.
According to the chairman, the crime is against the state and not the people to take laws into their hands.
“Tochukwu is known for this kind of ugly attitude but we don’t have to willfully and unlawfully commit murder. Let the security agents do their duties. The crime is against the state and no longer against individuals.
“Whoever steals should kindly leave the mechanic site for the serious business minded people else, the people will be banished from the entire mechanic site after being prosecuted,” the chairman threatened.
Eleke further gave stern warning to other criminally-minded individuals in the area to desist from any form of wickedness in the area or have themselves to be blamed.
Another trader at the mechanic village, Ozoemene Titus, told The Point that the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s arrest was not unconnected with a magical power tactically prepared by one of his past victims.
