On Tuesday, police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said four “one-chance” theft suspects were saved from being lynched by an angry mob on Kubwa Expressway, Abuja.
Suspects of one chance robbery generally use their cars as a ‘ taxi bait ‘ to dispose of valuable victims.
A declaration by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anjuguri Manza, FCT Command, Abuja, said the suspects were saved along the road by a police patrol squad.
He said the suspects, including three females, who had already been stripped of their clothes with their operating car already set on fire by the mob prior to the police team’s arrival.
The spokesman warned the Nigerian citizens against jungle justice. He identified the suspects as being taken into secure custody by the squad as Lydia Agabi, 23, Glory George 24, Ifeoma Ekweme, 39, and Eleojo David, 37.
He said the suspects ‘ rescue was consistent with the FCT Police Command’s efforts to safeguard life, uphold citizens ‘ rights to a fair hearing, and discourage jungle justice.
“While not being insensitive to the criminal activities of the suspects, the command condemns in totality, the practice of resorting to jungle justice.
“Stripping the three female suspects naked in public was totally uncalled for! The suspects have been given medical attention and are cooperating with the police in the ongoing investigation.
“The Command is hereby, assuring the public that efforts are being intensified to arrest the ‘one-chance’ syndrome in the FCT.
“It, however, implores them to desist from acts of jungle justice, as two wrongs cannot make a right,” he said.
Mr Manzah said police officers had detained one Ifeanyi Kanu, 27, in a related development, who fled with the cash stolen from a victim.
He said a total amount of N53,000 and the phone of the victim had been retrieved as exhibits from the suspect so far.
After completing the inquiry, he said the suspect would be arraigned in court and promised that justice would be pursued in the case to its logical conclusion. (NAN)
