Suspected ritualist mobbed in Asaba

In what better fits the description of melodrama, a suspected ritualist, was yesterday caught in the act, beaten by an irate mob and whisked off by policemen before he could be lynched to death in Asaba, Delta State.

Around 4:30p.m. when civil servants were retiring from office, the suspect, Mr. Luke Emmanuel, a young man in his early 30s, was suspected of being a ritual killer and beaten to a pulp along Nnebisi Road, directly opposite Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

When our correspondent got to the scene, victim of the attack, a lady, who pleaded anonymity, said the suspect touched her private part with a ring, which turned red immediately.

She said the suspect, a mobile network subscription canvasser, came to her stall like a customer, who needed her services, but unknown to her, he had ulterior motives.

“He took a seat close to me and with a swift movement touched and held on to my private part with his right hand, which had a ring on the ring finger. The ring, which was initially gold coloured, immediately turned red.”

The victim said she immediately confronted Luke, but the suspect took to his heels and headed towards Ibusa Junction, adding that but for her cry for help, the suspect would have vanished into thin air.

The suspect, who wore a sky blue native top on a black trouser, was apprehended by an irate mob that immediately descended on him. He was made to sit on a chair by the crowd, while the contents of his bag were emptied on a table. They included 16 rings of different designs, two National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) identity cards, a wad of N50 notes and few pieces of paper.

The ID cards, which bore the passport photograph of the suspect, contained the name, Mr. Luke Emmanuel, with an address simply imprinted as Opposite Peace International School.

The suspect, who was quizzed on his intention, only introduced himself as Luke Emmanuel and maintained silence. He started gesticulating, pointing his fingers towards Ogbeogonogo Market, beckoning on unseen people only he could see, stretching his hands over the rings spread on the table, trying to jump up as if to escape the crowd.

For a moment, he tried to break free from the mob’s grip, which infuriated the crowd. They immediately descended on him. It was in the ensuing drama that four policemen from ‘A’ Division Asaba armed with AK 47 assault rifles, arrived the scene and whisked him away to their station.