Three suspected robbers burnt to death by angry residents

Three suspected armed robbers were on Monday evening burnt to death by residents of Amana community in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Members of the community arrested the suspects and set them ablaze while the remaining gang members escaped.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the gang has been terrorizing the area and its environs for long and they could no longer stand their attacks, so they decided to mobilize.

“They have been causing serious havoc in Obanliku and its environs and we have been waiting for them when they finally entered our domain in Amana. We were able to clamp down three of them while five others escaped. We had to make sure justice was served because they have killed, maimed and raped us a lot of times in the community and we know that if they are handed over to the police they might go scot-free.

“We don’t want them to come back and continue their trade and as we speak we are combing the area for others because we know they have not gone far and we will be waiting for them also if they return to Amana ever again. We are really tired of their menace and we want this to be a lesson to all criminals that we will show no mercy if they are caught,” he said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident and expressed disappointment, stressing that nobody has the right to take life no matter what has happened.

“I am aware of the incident and we are on top of the situation but nobody has the right to take life. Life is too precious, for God sake we have laws and we live in a civilized society.

“We have been sensitizing people yet they have failed to listen to us because they feel they don’t get justice. But the act is barbaric, it’s archaic and very demonic, the public should desist from it because it is inhuman to do such.

“The public should learn to have confidence in the police because no criminal that will be kept after investigation without been charged to court, they should understand that life is precious and it belongs to God, they should stop jungle justice,” she warned.