By Praise Chinecherem
A suspected tricycle thief was on Monday set ablaze by angry mob at Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The deceased, it was gathered, was a member of a six man armed robbery gang who specialized in tricycle snatching.
A resident of the area who preferred anonymity said trouble ensued when the suspects snatched a brand new tricyle from the owner at gun point, but were caught in attempt to drive away with the tricycle.
He said, “The boys had snatched the Keke from the owner and as one of them wanted to drive away the tricyle, the youths who were around watching the incident, immediately pounced on him.
“He was immediately set ablaze; but five of his gang members sped off with the tricycle they came with to save their lives from the irate mob who blocked the old Onitsha/Awka/Enugu road.
He added, “They normally come within the scene of the incident to snatch tricycles on weekly basis. This is not the first time they robbed; but today one of them met his water loo. You can see the corpse on fire.
“Everyone is happy, but had wished all of them were caught and set ablaze because they have created fear in the residents.”
Also reacting, a street trader who dentified himdelf as Peter Okeke, said that Governor Soludo has been trying on security, adding that robbery is not part of the Igbo people.
“Igbo are hard working people and robbery is not part of them, the robbers are non indigenes of the State and I urge the Governor not to be deterred by the criminal activities of the lazy youths.
“More than 10 tricycles have been snatched at gunpoint within the scene in one month,” he revealed.
