ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
A suspected motorcycle thief has been killed by an angry mob and his corpse set ablaze by angry youths at Magama Weekly Market in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The suspect whose identity is not yet known was caught while trying to steal the motorcycle and was surrounded by the angry mob and beaten to death. His corpse was thereafter set on fire.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists by its Public Relations Officer, And Waki.
Wakil, a Superintendent of Police said that its Toro Divisional Headquarters was informed of the incident and its men rushed to the scene but before they got there, the suspect had been killed by the mob.
“Operatives attached to Toro Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress call from Magama Gumau Police outstation that a suspected motorcycle thief whose name and address were yet to be known was caught in the act at Magama Weekly Market for stealing a motorcycle.
“The suspect was surrounded and beaten to death by an angry mob.
“On receipt of the report, a team of police operatives led by the Divisional Crime Officer immediately rushed to the scene in a bid to prevent the mob action from degenerating.
“However, on arrival at the scene, operatives discovered that the suspect was set ablaze by the mob. The body of the suspect was rushed to Toro General Hospital but certified death by a medical doctor,” he said.
Wakil said that the commissioner of Police in the State, CP Auwal Mohammed, has ordered a discreet investigation into the matter and the possible arrest of the culprits.
According to him, the CP frowned at the action of the irate youths, who, instead of taking the suspect to the nearest police station for proper investigation and prosecution, beat him to death without any recourse to the law.
“He further described the act as barbaric and inimical to the law governing our country and warned Bauchi citizens that the Command, under his stewardship, will not tolerate or allow some recalcitrant in the society to take laws into their hands by killing suspects.
“He also warned that nobody has the right to treat a suspect in such a barbaric manner. And it is wrong for anyone to assume the position of a law enforcement agent.
“He called on the people that suspects apprehended in connection with any crime should be immediately handed over to the police or any law enforcement agencies saddled with the responsibility of investigating and prosecuting such,” he urged.
The PPRO said that the Commissioner of Police appealed to the general public to be calm, as the investigation has commenced in earnest.
Meanwhile, the Police Command also confirmed the unfortunate fire incident that claimed the lives of two sisters in Madina Quarters of Bauchi metropolis on Sunday morning.
Wakil in the statement said that the Police received a distress call on the 17th of March 2024 that there was an outbreak of fire in a residence located at Madina quarters area of Bauchi metropolis.
He said that upon receiving the distress call, a team of policemen attached to ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters, rushed to the scene alongside the Federal Fire Service team.
“Consequently, aftermath of the incident, two girls Zainab Bashir Mohammed (8) and Ummu Salma Bashir Mohammed (5) were trapped in the fire. As a result, the two siblings were burnt beyond recognition by the fire,” he said.
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