A resident of Ajegunle Itaoluwo in Ikorodu area of Lagos State has foiled an attempt by two suspected thieves to burgle a house in the community.
The two thieves, identified as Felix Uzo and Bassey Okon, were caught by a neighbour after breaking into an apartment located at 23, Kareem Street, to steal a generator set.
The incident occurred at around 1:30 pm.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspects had earlier stolen some items from the residence before they made an attempt to steal the generator set.
But they were spotted by a neighbour, Mrs. Nike Badmus, who raised the alarm.
The suspects, Uzo, 37, and Okon, 35, are identified to be residents from a neighbouring community.
Our correspondent learnt that following the alarm raised by Mrs. Badmus, the residents intercepted the suspects as they were trying to flee.
It was gathered that the residents, who seized the fleeing suspects, gave them some severe beatings.
Our correspondent learnt that the suspects could have been lynched by the mob but for the quick intervention of the Ogijo Police Division.
Following the incident, the residents have launched a campaign aimed at warning members of the community to be wary of the activities of miscreants in the area.
Badmus said, “I spotted the two men when they were about to break into my neighbour’s apartment. It was around 1:00pm; I was almost falling asleep, when I heard some voices and sound beside our room. I peeped through the window and saw the two thieves trying to break the door of our neighbour’s apartment open.
“I quietly stepped outside and called the attention of people around. So, when I came back, I shouted and they (the suspects) tried to run. So, the neighbours I called ran after them and caught them. They confessed that they wanted to steal the generator set in the apartment. They beat them seriously and almost wanted to set them on fire before the police came and arrested them.”
Also speaking, a neighbour, who simply identified himself as Oluwo, said, “If not for the neighbour, who called the attention of residents, they would have stolen the generator. Those guys have been doing it for a long time. I heard they had stolen some goods from another apartment before this one.
“They want to buy Easter gifts for their girlfriends, but nemesis caught up with them.”
When contacted, Mr. Kehinde Osunkoya, whose apartment was burgled, said, “They came to steal my generator and were nabbed and they are currently at the police station.
“Residents should be careful with miscreants who don’t have anything they are doing but roaming around, especially when everybody has gone to work. If not for my neighbour, they would have stolen my generator and may be some other
things.”
The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Chike Oti, said the matter had not been reported to the command.
He added that he would contact the division to confirm the
incident.
