An armed robbery suspect, who was caught while operating in an area in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has been set ablaze by an angry crowd.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at ‘Batcher Estate’ behind Anglican Church near Mechanic Village along Umukoto Nekede.
The incident followed the killing of a motorcyclist by two suspected robbers after dispossessing him of his motorcycle.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspect and three other members of his gang had invaded the ‘Batcher Estate’ and started robbing residents in their rooms.
But, while they were operating, a neighbour raised an alarm which brought members of the village.
The crowd were said to have mobilised against the robbers and attacked them.
While three of them managed to escape, the unlucky one was nabbed, beaten to a pulp and taken to the uninhabited area of the Mechanic village where he was set on fire by the mob.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Orlando Ikeokwu, told our correspondent that he was just touching down from Abuja on official assignment.
He however promised to get back to our correspondent when he got to the office.