Chaos erupted along Port Harcourt’s Ikoku Market in the Mile axis on Saturday when passers-by discovered the mutilated body of an unidentified man, believed to have been killed by a mob. Witnesses reported that the victim bore multiple machete wounds, with his stomach visibly torn and injuries to his buttocks, found near a bank at Ayama Junction, close to Olu-Obasanjo Road.
A local source speculated, “The extent of the injuries indicates that the man may have been murdered.”
However, the Rivers State Police Command clarified that the deceased was a notorious criminal who was allegedly lynched by a mob after being caught committing a crime. Responding officers confirmed that the individual had been linked to multiple burglary incidents in the area.
In a statement released Saturday evening, Police Command Spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko debunked claims that body parts were missing. She explained that after the mob dumped the body along the roadside, it was struck by a speeding vehicle, adding to the injuries.
Iringe-Koko emphasized that police investigations are underway to uncover the events that led to the lynching and to hold those responsible accountable.
