An angry mob in Abak Local Council of Akwa Ibom State, yesterday, meted jungle justice on a suspected tricycle thief, setting him ablaze, even as two other accomplices, including a female gang member, escaped.

The incident occurred in the early hours, on Uyo-Abak road, near Holy Family College, Oku-Abak, following an alarm raised by the tricycle operator. A witness identified the deceased as the son of a village head in Uyo, the state capital, who migrated to Abak Local Council, with his gang to dispossess members of the public of their belongings, using the female accomplice as bait.

“We have been monitoring their activities following complaints by local residents. When we received intelligence, we laid an ambush. The alarm attracted youths in the neighbourhood, who rose up early at about 5:00 a.m., and rushed to the scene. The sight of the youths forced the two gang members to escape quickly,” the witness said.

Despite warning by the Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, against extra-judicial killing of criminal suspects, another witness said: “We decided to take the law into our hands because every time we apprehend and hand over the criminals, the police would release them to terrorise us again.”