Angry youths have set ablaze two thieves that specialize in robbing operators of Point Of Sale (POS) in Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
An eyewitness identified as Nyenime Effiong told journalists who visited the scene that the two robbers using motorcycle tried to overpower a POS attendant dispensing cash to customers near the newly commissioned fly-over bridge.
Effiong said the criminals had succeeded in snatching the lady’s bag on Wednesday but luck ran out of them when the motorcycle they came with refused to start.
He said the POS attendant raised the alarm which made youths of the area and tricycle operators to hound them and set them ablaze before the arrival of the police.
“They thought their operation would be swift, but it turned to be end-of-the-road for them. They arrived on motorcycle and the one on the passenger seat alighted and suddenly accosted the POS operator with gun and demanded for cash.
“She immediately screamed at the sight of gun, and released her purse. But their motorcycle refused to kick. Then some commercial mini-bus and keke drivers with other angry youths trooped to the scene, chased the thieves and caught them,” he said.
According to some vigilant youths, these criminals, who perpetrate these nefarious activities using motorcycles “are also in the habits of targeting pump attendants at filling stations and supermarkets in the metropolis”.
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko Macdon, said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Amiengheme Andrew, has warned residents not to take the laws into their hands by administering jungle justice on criminal suspects, reiterating that people should hand over suspects to relevant security agency.
“Jungle justice has no place in law”, he said, advising that “civilians have power to arrest suspects, but must hand them over to the Police for diligent investigation and prosecution.”