There was pandemonium in Oshodi area of Lagos State, yesterday, when a mob lynched a man for allegedly kidnapping two children.

The man was alleged to have kidnapped the children from different streets and tucked them in his Agbada.

A relative of the alleged kidnapped child, simply identified as Abubakar, said the man, believed to be in his 60s, was caught when he was trying to take away the second child he kidnapped around Charity Bus Stop.

He said: “The man kidnapped my sister’s daughter in Ajenifuja Street and went ahead to Charity Bus Stop to kidnap another child.

“It is from there that nemesis caught up with him as he was taken to the Army Resettlement Centre, Charity Oshodi, but the Army said he should be taken to the police station for proper investigation, but the mob resisted and decided that they must pass judgment on him.

“In the ensuing melee, some area boys, including residents were said to have trooped out to beat the alleged kidnapper to death around the Church Bus Stop, Oshodi.”

Another eyewitness said: “Before the police arrived at the scene, the kidnapper had given up the ghost. The police came to move his corpse away.

Speaking with The Guardian, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police (SP), Benjamin Hundeyin said: “The man was met half dead when our men got to the scene of the incident, and immediately the mob saw the men, they all took to their heels.

“We took the man to the nearest hospital where he took his last breath.

On the identity of the man, he said: “We can’t confirm if the man is a kidnapper and this is another case of jungle justice.

“Nigerians must know that they must not take the law into their hands no matter the situation.
“They must report to the police when they discover something, instead of being the judge and the executioner.

“We will not tolerate this attitude as it’s inimical to growth and peaceful society.”