Kidnap Suspect Lynched In Ekiti

Irate youths yesterday set ablaze a suspected kidnapper at Odo-Oja in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The suspect, said to be in his late forties, was allegedly found in possession of a child’s body about 7:40am at Mashood on Mofere Street at Eyitayo Estate.
The youths, numbering about 50, stri*ped the suspect bare before beating him to a state of coma. They also hung used tires around his neck, doused him in petrol and set him ablaze.

An eyewitness said: “The man was initially handed over to the Oodua local vigilance group. We expected them to torture him but they (the vigilance group members) did no such thing. They kept him there and wasted our time. At a point we got angry and took him to the main road and burnt him”.
However, the police warned residents against taking the law into their hands, adding that “the command will deal with whoever is found engaging in such”.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Babayemi, told reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital that the incident was “regrettable and inhuman”.
He said: “The action of Ikere youths is condemnable and regrettable. There is no jungle justice in Nigeria’s Laws. It is barbaric for people to kill and set ablaze a suspect without resorting to security agencies. This will not be tolerated”.
According to the police spokesperson, the command was already investigating the matter with a view to expose those behind the dastardly act.
Meanwhile, Babayemi disclosed that a middle-aged woman, Mrs. Lola Adebayo, was arrested for allegedly assaulting her nine-year-old maid, Blessing Akinyemi.