How Onitsha Mob Set Robbery Suspects Ablaze

Two suspected armed robbers were on Monday burnt to death in Onitsha, Anambra State.The incident occurred along the Old Road, Nkpor, near an old generation bank.

The suspects, who were said to have operated on a motorbike, had snatched a bag containing cash from a lady who just withdrew the money from a nearby bank.

Eyewitnesses told Southern City News that the robbers snatched the money at gunpoint, but people around, who noticed what was happening gave them a chase, caught them, beat them with clubs, stoned them before setting them ablaze,Punch reports.

A resident, who does not want his name mentioned, said such an incident had become a daily occurrence in the area.

He urged the state Governor, Willie Obiano, to improve on security in Onitsha and its environs to contain the development.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government may have concluded plans to rid the state of non-indigenes operating commercial motorcycles.

The Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Ejikeme, gave the indication while addressing newsmen in his office on Tuesday.

Ejikeme said the measure had become necessary because security reports indicated that such persons were responsible most of the crimes in the state.

He said those already blacklisted were Okada riders from Abakaliki, Nsukka, Calabar and Kogi, whom, according to him, were responsible for incessant violent crisis in the state.

“I tell you that the crisis you see in the state emanating from the Okada riders are from non-indigenes, especially those from Kogi, who have been engaging us in communal war, destroying our property and killing our people over the orient petroleum sited at Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

“There should be decorum amongst the Okada men and it is unfortunate that those who graduated from Okada to Keke (tricycle) are the same people and have the same methodology of operation,” the commissioner said.

He pointed out that the state government could no longer fold its hands and watch the worrisome activities of the Okada riders.