Three Suspected Terrorists set ablaze in Ikotun

It was a sad end for three suspected okada robbers who it was alleged had been terrorizing the residents of Ikotun area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria as they were  caught and set ablaze by an angry mob.  The suspected robbers were killed after their robbery operation was foiled by a member of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, vigilante group in the area.

The robbers, who allegedly operated with the aid of motorcycle, met their waterloo when they attempted to rob a woman, a wholesales recharge cards seller, at Governor’s Road, Ikotun at about 7 p. m. on Wednesday.

According to an eye witness account, on the fateful day, the suspected robbers parked their okada in front of the woman’s shop. While one waited outside, the other two suspected robbers went inside the shop to rob the trader.

It was alleged that one of the robbers pointed a gun at the woman and demanded for her bag containing recharge cards and sales proceeds for the day.

The woman refused and insisted that she will not hand over the bag to them. The argument between the woman and the suspected robbers alerted some of the residents of the area who fled when they  saw the gun pointed at the woman.

This caused commotion in the area and drew the attention of the  OPC member.

An eyewitness said: “When the OPC member confronted the robbers, one of them shot at him but the bullet did enter his body. The robbers were afraid and attempted to escape with their motorcycle. But as they attempted to zoom off, a motorist hit their motorcycle. They fell down and were rounded up by the residents”

According to the eyewitness, before the police could intervene the mob had gathered the suspects together and burnt them beyond recognition along with their motorcycle.

“The mob set them ablaze with the petrol they got from their motorcycle. Though the police were informed about the robbery,  before they got to the area, the suspects had been burnt by the angry mob,”  the eyewitness said.

Reacting to the killing of the suspects, some of the residents complained about incessant attacks  by okada robbers in the area but did not support jungle justice meted out to the suspects.

They said the suspects should have been handed over to the police who would have used them as bait  to fish out other criminals in the area.

When P.M.NEWS visited the Ikotun Police Division  to speak to the DPO, CSP Chris Akika, he was not around.

However, sources at the station confirmed the incident and said no arrest had been made in connection to the jungle justice meted out to the suspected robbers.