By Gbenga Alade
There was pandemonium at Oko-Afor, Badagry area of Lagos State, when two suspected armed robbers were allegedly burnt to death by some angry youths.
The robbers received a jungle justice from the youths after they had allegedly killed a lotto operator in the community.
It was learnt that the suspected armed robbers, whose names were simply given as John and Ade alias Baale, rode on a motorcycle and stormed the community around 10a.m., going straight to a Lotto operator Kiosk, where they dispossessed the attendant of money and other valuables.
Our correspondent gathered that the Oko-Afor youths got angry over the stabbing to death of the Lotto operator by the suspects, after they had dispossessed him of his phones, money and other valuables.
A resident, who spoke with our correspondent, Mr. Adu Adebayo, explained that it was unfortunate that the community had been battling with the problem of armed robbery for long.
He said, “When the lotto operator was stabbed, before we could rush him to the hospital, he had died. Due to this, the youths out of annoyance took their motorcycle and went after the suspects. Fortunately, they were apprehended at Aradagun village along Badagry road.
“The suspects were disarmed and they were brought back to Oko-Afor village where they were given the beating of their lives. They were later set ablaze along with their motorcycle, because of their killing of the Lotto operator.”
Adebayo further said, “Oko-Afor is prone to robbery, because of the closeness of the area to Badagry and Seme border. We want serious police patrol on the corridor to prevent further killings and loss of precious youths, because we want peace.”
Another resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Unfortunately, the lotto operator that was killed by the robbers was the only son of his parents.
“The killing of the victim was too much to bear, because he was the one taking care of his parent and his siblings. We had been witnessing robbery incident in this area before, but this incident was too much for us to comprehend. The deceased was in his kiosk, when they went to attack him and dispossessed him of his valuables.
“It was after the incident that policemen from Area K and Marogbo Police station came to evacuate the remains of the suspects and deposited them at the mortuary. We have been calling for police patrol team in the area to prevent breakdown of law and orders.
“The death of the two suspects had brought panic into the community, because since then we have been living in fear. Everyone is afraid of reprisal from the friends of the robbers. They may want to revenge the death of their colleagues that were killed by the youths.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Balla Elkana, could not confirm the incident when he was contacted.
He promised to get back to our correspondent, but he did not as at press time.
