Angry Mob hacks suspected thieves, sets car ablaze

Three suspected criminals, who allegedly specialised in snatching bags from women in Calabar, Cross River State, were on Tuesday hacked with machetes almost to the point of death by residents of the area.

The suspected criminals were trailed by eyewitnesses after they had allegedly succeeded in snatching the bag of an unidentified woman who had just come out from a bank in the area.

The Volkswagen Vento salon car which was allegedly used for the operation was also set ablaze by the angry mob.

An eyewitness and a newspaper vendor, identified simply as Asuquo, said the thieves snatched the bag containing an unspecified sum of money from the woman who stepped out of First Bank premises along Calabar Road and sped off.

Asuquo said, “They snatched a bag from the woman on Calabar Road and drove through Target down to Goldie here, where they  were accosted by the mob. A lady who saw them when the thieves snatched the bag raised the alarm as she was driving and those people joined her in the chase.

“When the men got to Goldie by Atu roundabout, they attempted to make a U-turn, but about three cars blocked them from all sides.”

Asuquo explained further that when the suspected thieves saw that they had been trapped, they wound up the side glasses of the vehicle and remained inside.

“It was at that point that the lady in the first car came out of her car and raised the alarm, which attracted more people. Instantly, the thieves’ car glasses were broken and they were dragged out of the car. From nowhere, people brought out machetes.”

He said the suspected thieves were inflicted with cuts before the arrival of policemen from the Atakpa Police Division, who rescued and took the suspects to the station.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Hogan Bassey, said, “The boys are with us and are being given medical attention. They will appear in court after investigations are completed.”

Udo-Ekpo said before now, they used to apprehend criminals and hand them over to the police, only for them to be released later.

He said the level of insecurity in the area was frightening, adding, “that is why we decided to protect ourselves from these criminals.”