The Anambra state police command has said the suspected armed robbers burnt by a mob in the state were already on fire before the officers of the Command arrived at the scene.
Five suspected robbers were burnt beyond recognition on Saturday, March 25, as they were captured, stoned to death and burnt to ashes by some angry youths.
It was alleged that the suspects specialized in robbing people of their phones and other belongings at gunpoint, and were operating in a tricycle (popularly known as Keke Napep), before they were captured and by some youths who immediately ‘dealt’ with them into death.
Reacting to the incident, the Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said they got to the scene of the incident at about 5:30 pm, only to see that the suspected thieves had already been set ablaze.
He also revealed that the officers recovered some phones of different brands from the scene.
“The Operatives recovered 5 phones of different brands and a tricycle suspected to have been stolen by the suspects who were lynched. Meanwhile, the Command condemns this act in totality and has always encouraged the public to take suspects to police stations whenever they are apprehended, this will help the Police to conduct proper investigations into the activities of the suspects and bring them to justice under extant laws. Investigation is still ongoing and further development shall be communicated.”he said