Two phone thieves suspected to be cultists were set ablaze by an angry mob on Friday in Jos, Plateau State.
The incident occurred in the morning in the Kabong area of Jos North Local Government Area.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspects used weapons to attack pedestrians and drivers before robbing them of phones and other valuables.
Angered by the occurrence, onlookers pursued the culprits, and while some were able to flee, two were apprehended and set on fire by the mob.
Matthew Ignatius, a resident of the Kabong community, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, saying, “It happened this Friday morning. Some persons suspected to be cultists were attacking people and collecting their phones and money.
“This wasn’t the first time they had been terrorising the community, especially in the early mornings, at noon, and late evenings, seizing valuables like phones, laptops, and money.
“This morning, when they struck again, a mob gathered and gave them a hot chase. They caught two suspects and burnt them immediately, while others escaped.”
Speaking on the incident, the Plateau State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, DSP Alabo Alfred.
The statement read, “The Plateau State Police Command received a disheartening report in the early hours of today, November 29, 2024, about a mob action in Jenta Adamu, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
“The report received through a distress call from a concerned citizen indicated that at approximately 9:20 a.m., a group of yet-to-be-identified cult members invaded the community, attempting to rob law-abiding citizens of their belongings.
“In response, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police immediately ordered the Divisional Police Officer of ‘A’ Division, Jos, to deploy officers and detectives to the scene and commence an investigation.
“Upon arrival, our team discovered that an angry mob had pursued the invaders, attacked them, and set two individuals ablaze.
“The police, in collaboration with the leadership of Jos North Local Government Area, evacuated the charred bodies and deposited them at a hospital morgue. Two locally fabricated pistols, believed to belong to the suspected cultists, were recovered from the scene.
“While the police strongly condemn the activities of armed robbers and cultists, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, equally condemns the execution of jungle justice.
“As a civilised society, citizens are urged to hand over suspects to the relevant security agencies to ensure justice is served under the Plateau State Penal Code.”
Our correspondent gathered that the Gada Biu axis of the state has become infamous as a result of the widespread robbery of phones, laptops, and other valuables by criminal elements.
