Two suspected phone thieves were set ablaze by an irate mob in the Kabong community of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, on Friday morning.
Eyewitnesses reported that the suspects had been attacking passersby and road users with weapons, robbing them of phones and other valuables. When the mob pursued the group, some suspects managed to escape, but two were caught and set on fire.
A local resident, Mathew Ignatius, confirmed the incident, stating that the suspected thieves, believed to be cultists, had been terrorizing the community during early mornings, at noon, and late evenings.
“This wasn’t the first time they had been seizing valuables like phones, laptops, and money. Today, a mob gathered, gave them a hot chase, caught two suspects, and burnt them immediately, while others escaped,” Ignatius recounted.
The Plateau State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Alabo Alfred.
According to the statement, the police received a distress call about the mob action around 9:20 a.m. The report alleged that a group of unidentified cultists had invaded the community to rob residents.
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, dispatched officers to the scene to investigate.
“Upon arrival, the team discovered that an angry mob had pursued the invaders, attacked them, and set two individuals ablaze. Two locally fabricated pistols were recovered from the scene,” the statement read.
The police condemned the activities of the suspected cultists and robbers but also strongly criticized the execution of jungle justice, urging citizens to hand over suspects to law enforcement agencies for proper investigation and legal proceedings.
The CP warned that anyone found engaging in jungle justice would face legal consequences. He assured the public that measures were in place to ensure the safety and security of all residents in the state.
The charred bodies of the suspects were evacuated and deposited in a hospital morgue as investigations continue. The Plateau State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to maintaining law and order while urging the public to cooperate with security agencies.
